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THE 



HISTOEY OF HOWELL 



JVlICHia A.N. 



BY E L I S H A 11 . SMITH 



liANSING : 

JOHN Ji. KKRP. A CO., .STEAM BOOK AM) JOB I'HIXTURS AND BZXDEIty. 

1S68. 



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PREFACE. 

It ie an innate desire in the mind of man to obtain a knowledge of hx^ 
Ancestors, and the antiquity of their flrat and continuous settlements. 
This feeling becomes the more intense when the thoughts are directed to 
scenes and people of our own particular section. Tradition gives us but a 
vague idea of the privations and hardships incidental to the first settle- 
ment and cultivation of new places. These are of great value. The life 
of the pioneer has its lessons, from which even the participant in advanced 
culture and civilization may learn. It has been suggested by competent 
advisers, that a concise History of the Township and Village of Howell 
should be wiiiten, entirely in this spirit. The Author haa endeavored to 
do this faithfully and impartially. He ha-s endeavored to keep in view 
the fact that "Geography and Chronology" are the two eyes of History, 
and if errors should be found in this little book, trusts that the reader 
will exercise a charitable judgment 

ELISHA H. SMITH. 



INTROnUCTION. 



In the month of October, A. D. 1834, Francis 
Monroe and myself, (we being residents of Ontario 
county, State of New York,) came to the territory' 
of Michigan, for the purpose of buying land. We 
purchased in township three north, of range four 
east, and then returned. In the month of May, 
1835, my brothers, Villeroy E. Smith and John W. 
Smith and myself, emigrated to the above mentioned 
town. 

ASPECT OF THE COUNTRT. 

The woods were open, there being but little under- 
brush, owing to the ravages of fire. Eight here allow 
me to digress, for a moment, to speak of a most pe- 
culiar and curious feature of the section of which I 
especially treat. About twenty rods east and six 
rods south of the quarter post on the west side of 
section twenty-two, was a spot of ground about 
fifteen feet in width, twenty in length, and eight or 
ten inches in depth, the consistence of which was 
elastic, its color a light brown, and its weight com- 
paratively small. On being exposed to fire, it 
changed to a reddish brown. Its composition was 
unknown to men who were best informed in the 
science of Geology. It was barren, and was in 
proximity to marl, sand, gravel, and stone of various 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 



colors, through which was emitted a disagreeble 
odor. 



ZOOLOGICAL. 

The insects were innumerable. The mosquito, 
gnat, deer- fly and horse-fly were most annoying. 
Honey-bees were plentiful. 

Of the reptiles, there were four species of Hzards, 
and two of turtles. The snakes were the green, the 
checkered, the striped, the blow snake, the adder, 
the water snake, the massassauger, the blue-racer 
and black snake. 

Of the fish, (without attempting to give scientific 
names,) there were the shiner, chub, horned-dace, 
perch, black-gills, sun fish, roach, dog fish, bill fish, 
bull head, rock bass, silver bass, black bass, suckers, 
mullet, and pickerel. 

Of the birds, there were the humming, chipping 
bird, cat-bird, sparrow, ground-bird, chajuck, blue 
bird, yellow-bird, robin, cherry bird, red-robin, red- 
bird, phoebe, cuckoo, mourning dove, pigeon, lark, 
thrush, kill-deer, king bird, bobolink, blue-jay, snipe, 
quail, woodcock, partridge, whipporwill, loon, her- 
ron, crane, raven, buzzard, prarie hen and wild tur- 
key. There were five species of wood-peckers, three 
of black birds, two of swallows, three of hawks, 
three of owls, two of eagles, and four of ducks. 

Of the animals, there were the chip-munck, gopher, 
flying squirrel, red, black, grey and fox squirrels. 
There were the grey, silver grey, red and black fox. 
There were the porcupine, woodchuck, racoon, hare, 
weasel, mink, muskrat, otter, martin, badger, wild 
cat, lynx, wolf, bear, deer and elk. Skunks, rats 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. / 

and erows did iiot make their appearance until sev- 
eral years after the Hettlemftut of the place. 

ABORIGINEES. 

The Indians were of tawny complexion, with 
black eyes and coarse, straight black hair. They 
were slim in stature, with prominent cheek bones, 
low heads and receding foreheads. Phrenologically 
considered, they had moderate reflective faculties, 
but prominent perceptives, especially locality, which 
gave them the ability to travel in the woods and re- 
tain the point of compass. During the mild seasons 
of the year they dwelt in cloth tents. In the winter 
they " went into winter quarters," and lived in small 
log huts or wigwams. Their huts were built similar 
to log houses. Their wigwams were constructed of 
small logs, the lower ends standing on the ground, 
and the upper ones being placed together, which 
made them cone-shaped. They were covered with 
bark, and their fires were built in the centre of them. 
Their furniture consisted of camp kettles and knives. 
Some few of them had spoons and tin cups. In 
eating they held their victuals in their hands. I 
have seen several standing around a kettle of soup, 
dipping it up in their hands and conveying it to 
their mouths. They slept on bark laid on the 
ground, with one or two blankets to cover them. 
In the warm weather they seldom remained more 
than ten or twelve days in one place. When they 
decamped, their tents and other things were tied on 
the backs of their ponies, the squaws and small 
children took their position. Their idea of deal was 
to exchange and equal amount in bulk. For a bas- 
ket they demanded the size of the basket in flour. 



8 JIIHTOKY UF HUWELL. 

They would give an amount of lion^^y fox Llie same 
bulk of potatoes. Tliey were very fond of whisky, 
and in their carousals, one or more of their number 
would remain sober, concealing the guns, knives and 
axes. They were usually submissive to the sober 
Indians. On the north-west quarter of section 
twenty-two there are several places of burial, judg- 
ing from the appearance of the mounds where they 
were interred. They commenced burying their dead 
at the top of the ground, covering the corpse with 
earth. They then placed other bodies above this 
one, until the mound was several feet high. Several 
of these mounds have been opened for phrenological 
observation. Their traits of character were found 
similar to those who lived here at the time of the 
settlement by the whites. They were buried with 
their heads in a south-easterly direction. The In- 
dians who lived here at the time the mounds were 
opened, had no knowledge of them. On the ex- 
posure of the bones to the atmosphere, they would 
soon decompose. 

Settlement of the Towusliip, \vitli Cotemporaucous and 
Subsequent Events. 

In the month of May, 1835, James Sage imd George 
L. Sage, with their families, moved from Salem, 
Washtenaw county, Michigan, to this town. They 
arrived on section thirty-five, in town three north, of 
range four east, on the 14th day of the month. On the 
first of June following, David Austin and family set- 
tled on the same section. In December, of the same 
year, John D. Pinckney settled on section 3G. They 
were farmers. James Sage died June 29th, 1839. 
George T. Sage died in the township of Marion, 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 



9 



August 21st, 1852. John D. Pinckney died Febru- 
ary 11th, 1861. They were all men of respectability, 
and had the honor of being the first four men 
that settled in the township. The widow of George 
T. Sage is living, and is now the wife of Rev. 
Geo. W. Jenks. Mrs. James Sage and Mrs. John 
D. Pinckney are also alive. Mrs. David Austin is 
dead. 

The nearest inhabitants from the centre of the 
township, at the settlement of the place, were eigh- 
teen miles away. In a westerly direction, it was 
about forty miles to the nearest settlemen^ The 
nearest mills were eighteen miles distant. I give 
herewith a somewhat detailed statement of the geog- 
raphy of the first settlement: 



Sec. 

Joseph Porter, 7 

Samuel Waddell, 17 

Whitely Woodruff, 17 

David H. Austin, 20 

Villeroy E. Smith, 21 

EHsha H. Smith, 21 

Nathaniel Johnson 23 

Alvin Crittenden, . .' 23 

Merrit S. Havens 23 



Sec 

Francis, Field, 23 

Moses Thompson, 25 

Lewis Thompson, 25 

Morris Thompson, 25 

Edward Thompson, 25 

Ezra I. Munday, 25 

Amos Adams, 36 

F. J. B. Crane, 3t5 

Alexander Eraser, 36 



The First of the Village 

The plat of the village of Howell -was estab- 
lished in 1835, and located on section 36, by F. .T. B. 
Crane, and Brooks, of Detroit. It was named (aa 
well as the township,) in honor of Thomas Howell, 
a son of Judge Howell, of Canandaigua, N. Y. A 
few years after Crane and Brooks established the 
original plat, an addition was laid out by Mr. Cow- 
dry, of the city of New York. Subsequently Edward 
Thompson, of Howell, made a further addition. In 
the autumn of 1885, Crane and Brooks erected a 



10 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 



two story frame building for a hotel, situated on tlie 
south side of Grand Kiver street, and east of Wal- 
nut street. Amos L. Adams and his family, were its 
first occupants. The building was destroyed by fire 
September 28th, 1857. 

First Events in the Toirnsliip. 

The first person born in the township was Geo. 
L. Sage, son of Geo. T. and Louisa Sage, January 
23d, 1835. 

Rev. John Cosort, of the Methodist denomination, 
was the first person that preached in Howell. The 
meeting was at the house of James Sage, A. D. 1835. 

The first marriage that occurred in Howell, was 
at the house of David Austin, the bride's father. 
The nuptials celebrated were those of Merritt S. 
Havens and Sally T. Austin. The ceremonies and 
festivities were a la mode. Thisw\as on the 15th day 
of January, 1836. They were married by Kinsley 
S. Bingham, who afterwards became successively 
Governor of this State and member of the United 
States Senate. 



luiniigration of 1836. 



Skc. 

John B. Larowe, 36 

Hiram Bennett, 36 

Henry Lake, 8 

Garrett S. Lake, 9 

Victory Curtis, 9 

George Curtis, 10 

John Curtis, 10 

Ichabod Kneeland > 13 

George W. Kneeland, 13 

John B. Kneeland, 18 

Nathan T Kneeland, 13 

Benjamin G. Spring, 15 

Morgan Lyon, , 18 



Sec. 

Clement Stebbins, 19 

Job Case, 22 

Daniel Case, 22 

Justin Durfee, 23 

Peter Brewer, 23 

Solomon Pettingill, 27 

Henry Pettingill 28 

James E. Head, 28 

Oliver Reed, 35 

Simon P. Shope, 36 

Gottlieb Schraft 36 

Jacob Schraft, 36 

Watson G. Thomas 36 



BISTORT OF HOWELL. H 

Immigiaitts that Settled l»i the Village in the Yeai just 
Mentioned. 

William McPherson. i John Russell, 
Joseph H. Steel, Peter Johnson, 

Giles Tucker, Sherburn Crane, 

Enos B. Taylor, | Joseph Tucker. 

Recurrence to Matters of the Township. 

At the organization of the township of Howell in 
1836, it included the townships now named respec- 
tively, Handy, Conway, Cohoctah, Deerfield and 
Oceola. 

The inhabitants at this time, and previous to the 
establishment of a post-office in Howell, received 
their letters either at Ann Arbor, Plymouth, or 
Detroit. The post-office was assigned to Howell in 
March, 1836. F. J. B. Crane was appointed Post 
Master. About the 20th of the same moiith a mail 
route was established between Kensington, Oakland 
county, and Howell. Lewis Thompson was the 
mail contractor, and he carried the mail on horse- 
back once per week. Soon after this another route 
was established between Howell and Grand Rapids. 
James R. Sage, of Howell, a lad of about 17 years 
of age, was the first person who carried the mail on 
this route. It then required six or seven days to 
perform the journey. On his first trip he missed his 
path and was obliged to stay in the woods over 
night. The mail was carried on horseback. 

The first election in the township was held at the 
house of Amos Adams. This was the only house 
in the village. The election was in April, 1836. 
Amos Adams, F. J. B. Crane, John W. Smith, Jona- 
than Austin, and Alvin Crittenden as clerk, consti- 
tuted the board. For the want of suitable ballot 
boxes, sugar-bowls and tea-pots were borrowed of 



12 HISTORY OF HOWELL. 

Mr. Adams' family to be used as depositories of the 
votes. There was no opposition at the election. 
The whole number of votes cast was 33. The elec- 
tion resulted in the choice of Philester Jessup for 
supervisor; F. J. B. Crane, town clerk; Amos Adams, 
Ezra Sanford, Harleigh H. Graves, and John W. 
Smith, justices of the peace; Francis Field, col- 
lector; Justin Durfee, David Austin and Geo. T. 
Sage, assessors; Joseph Porter, F. J. B. Crane and 
Jonathan Austin, school inspectors; John Sanford, 
Justin Durfee and Geo. T. Sage, highway commis- 
sioners; John D. Pinckney, F. J. B. Crane, Francis 
Field and Elisha H. Smith, constables. John W. 
Smith afterwards held the office of justice of the 
j)eace sixteen years in succession. On the same day 
of the above named election, one was held for the 
purpose of choosing county officers. Justus Ben- 
nett, of Hamburg, was elected sheriff; F. J. B. 
Crane, county clerk; Ely Barnard, of Genoa, register 
of deeds; Amos Adams, treasurer and surveyor. 

Some of the town officers were unacquainted 
with official proceedings, and consequently business 
was improperly executed in the assessment of prop- 
erty. The names of persons owning property were 
not placed in ali^habetical order — a matter which 
rendered the list very inconvenient when searching 
for names. The assessment was entered on half- 
sheets of paper. After it was completed these half- 
sheets were joined together with wafers. The list 
was 15 feet in length. Some persons who indulged 
somewhat in similes called it " Ezekiel's roll of a 
book." 

The first court held in the township was com- 
menced before Amos Adams, Esq., and was trans- 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 13 

ferred to John W. Smith, Esq. The court was held 
at the house of the author of this volume, on section 
twenty- one. The plaintiff in the case was George 
Kice; defendant, Henry Neff. The attorneys were 
Kinsley S. Bingham, of Green Oak, Livingston 
county, (afterwards Governor of the State,) and Dr. 
Curtis, of KensingtoD, Oakland county. The Dr. 
still lives at the village of Holly in this State. After 
having passed through formalities usual in law-suits, 
and arguing points of law, the plaintiff withdrew 
his suit and paid the costs. 

The first records of the proceedings of the town- 
ship and township board are destroyed or lost. A 
part of them were loaned to some person about the 
year 1850, who was concerned in the Detroit, Howell 
and Lansing plank road. The Grand River turn- 
pike running through Howell, was established by 
the United States Government. That part of it 
which lay in the township was laid out by the high- 
way commissioners for the purpose of legally apply- 
ing highway labor thereon. 

In June, 1836, there was an extensive fall of rain. 
The water rose to the height of three feet on the 
marsh adjoining the channel of the Shiawassee 
river, and a rudely constructed log bridge across 
that stream was swept away. Shortly after this 
event Henry Lake and Garrett S. Lake arrived with 
their household furniture. Their teams swam the 
river and their wagons and goods were conveyed 
across on a raft. 

During the summer and autumn of 1836, Artemas 
Hosmer, of Wayne county, under contract with the 
United States Government, built a bridge over the 
Shiawassee river on the line of the Grand River 



14 HISTORY OF HOWELL. 

road. The plank and boards used in its construction 
were sawed with a pit-saw. 

In the autumn of 1836, a horse was stolen from 
Henry Pettingill. We are happy to say that lar- 
cenies have not been common in the township. 

The first school-house built in the township was 
erected in the fall of 1830. It was situated in the 
western part of the village. Justin Durfee was the 
first teacher who conducted a school there. The 
name of Durfee is rescued from entire oblivion by 
being associated with that of Benj. J. Spring, a wag 
of the very first water. Spring owned a farm ad- 
joining Durfee, and the two men had been in the 
habit of what pioneers understand as " exchanging 
work." It so happened that finally Justin owed 
Spring for one day's labor, and being of rather a 
grasping turn of mind, he never came to pay it 
except on some day when it stormed so he could do 
nothing at home. Coming over to Spring s house 
one rainy morning, he found Ben. under a shed ar- 
ranging some fishing tackle, and accosted him with 
the remark, "Well, Spring, I've come over to do 
that work, and if I can't do it to-day I shan't do it 
at all!" Spring coolly raised his eyes and looking 
over in the direction of a certain clay knoll, whereon 
there was some miserable, stunted blades of corn 
growing, said : " Mr. Durfee you can go over there and 
go to tasseling out that corn!" Tradition does not 
inform us that Justin went. 

On the first settlement of the place, provisions 
were scarce and difficult to be procured. Some of 
the inhabitants depended for their meat entirely on 
hunting and fishing. Gottleib Schraft and Jacob 
Schraft came near starving. They subsisted several 



HISTORY OP HOWELL 



ir> 



days on boiled grass and other herbage. After- 
wards, through the liberality of Moses Thompson, 
they were provided with food. It may be worthy 
of incidental remark that the Schrafts entrusted 
their money about this time to one Simon P. Shope, 
who pretended he was about to establish a village 
in the south-east corner of the town of Howell. 



Events of 1837, &e. 



The following named gentlemen settled in the 
township of Howell in the above year: 



Odel J. Smith, 10 

Hezekiah Gates, 15 

Abraham A. Van Nest, 17 

Henry Tobias, 17 

John Lagrange, 21 

Aaron Lagrange, 21 

James Lagrange, '21 



Sec. 

Ebenezer West, 26 

Matthew West, 26 

Francis Monroe, 28 

Rial Lake^ 32 

William Hudson, 82 

Huram Bristol, 34 



The following persons came into the village in the 
same year: 



Edward F. Gay, 
Richard Fishbeck, 
John T. WatsoD, 
James Whit^, 



I George W. Jewett. 

Almon Whipple, 
I 0. J. Field, 
! JosiahP. Jewett. 



F. J. B. Crane, of Howell, was elected a Represen- 
tative in the State Legislature in 1837. 

The first Circuit Court for the county of Livings- 
ton, was held at the School House, in Howell, in the 
same year. The jury room was in a small building 
situated on the north-east corner of the old public 
square. 

In the same year, Edward F. Gay erected a frame 
building for a dry goods and grocery store. Mr. 
Gay was the first merchant of the township. At one 



16 HISTORY OF HOWELL. 

time his building (although not large,) coutained a 
store, post-office, lawyer's office, shoe shop and tailor's 
shop. 

In the spiing of 1837, Samuel Waddell was taken 
sick and died. Cyrus Wells, M. D., of Oakland Co., 
father of Wm. L. Wells, M. D., of Howell, was sent 
for to attend upon him. He arrived at the house in 
the evening, and after examining him uttered the fatal 
words, " I cannot help him.'' Mr. Waddell ceased 
to live on the 30th day of May, and was the first 
person who died in the township. He was at first 
buried on his farm, and shortly after was disinterred 
and buried in the village cemetery. He was a man 
of integrity and respectability. His family shortly 
after removed to the State of New York. Andrew 
D. Waddell, Esq., a son of the deceased, now lives in 
our midst, an honored and respected citizen. In 
those days the friends of the sick were forced to go 
even into Oakland and Washtenaw counties after 
physicians. 

William McPherson, the first resident blacksmith, 
settled in the township in 183G. This we had omit- 
ted to state, together with the fact, that Merritt S. 
Havens, a carpenter, and Joseph Porter, a millwright, 
came in 1835. Bichard Fishbeck established the 
first boot and shoe shop in the village, in 1837. 
James White started a cabinet shop in the same year. 
Moses Thompson erected the first frame house in 
the township, in 1837. 

Gardner Wheeler, M. D., settled in the township 
in 1838. He was the first resident physician of the 
place, and a man of intellectual ability, and skill 
in his profession. He died January 11th, 1859, and 
was interred accordinof to the rites and ceremonies 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 17 

of the Masonic Fraternity, of which he had long 
been a member. John A. Wheeler, his son, was the 
first medical student of the place. Wellington A. 
Glover, Esq., came in 1838, and was the first resident 
attorney. 

Garrett S. Lake manufactured the first brick in the 
township, on section nine, in the same year. John R. 
Neely came in 1839, and was the first resident mason. 
Joseph Rowe opened a tailor's shop the same year. 
Henry Thornton commenced cooper work on section 
23, in 1842. Andrew Hill commenced wagon mak- 
ing in the village the same year. Eli Carpenter be- 
gan the business of saddle and harness making, in 
the same year. Nicholas Frink established a gun 
shop in 1845. Loren K. Kewett started a tin shop 
in 1846. Sidney HoUister established a jewelry shop 
in 1847. James E. and Edwin A. Stedman started 
a marble manufactory in 1856. 

Meteorological . 

The winter of 1842-3 was very severe. On the 
last days of March the snow was twenty-six inches 
in depth, and the winter did not begin to break up 
till the first Monday in April. Most of the hogs in 
the township died in that rigorous season. 

Right here allow us to observe upon a most singu- 
lar phenomenon. On an evening in January, 1837, 
the snow appeared to be of a deep red color, and 
the night was as bright as though the moon had 
shone. 

Miscellaneous Matters and Events. 

The first building consumed by fire was the dwel- 
ling house of Michael Brennan, situated on section 



18 HISTORY OF HOWF.TJ.. 

25, in 1840. All the household furniture was de- 
stroyed. Geo. T. Sage built the first house in the 
township in 1834. 

The first cattle, hogs and fowls owned in the town- 
ship, w^ere brought from Salem, Washtenaw county, 
by James and Geo. T. Sage, in the same year. In 
the summer of 1835, Moses Thompson brought three 
horses from the State of New York. The first colts 
were raised in 1843. Lewis Thompson is yet the 
owner of a horse that was a foal in that year. The 
first two sheep were brought by Ira Bray ton, from the 
State of New York, in 1838. A few sheep were pur- 
chased of a drover in 1841, but no sheep were raised 
until 1842. To show, however, the progress made 
in stock growing, we have but to state that in 1846, 
Almon Whipple and William Dorrance, of Howell, 
collected a drove of cattle, in Livingston Co., for the 
Eastern market. 

In the fall of 1836, Moses Thompson built a saw mill 
on section 25. In 1850, Morris Thompson, George 
AV. Lee, and Frederick J. Lee built a grist mill on 
the same section. The present proprietor is 
Thomas Birkett. In 1838, Amos Adams and Joseph 
Porter erected a saw mill on section 27. In 1854, 
Amos S." Adams and Enos B. Taylor became owners 
of the property. They built a new mill on the for- 
mer site. Subsequently Joseph M. Gilbert became 
proprietor, and he established a carding machine 
and cloth factory in connection with it. In 1866, 
Ira Brayton purchased it. In 1844, Ezekiel Sabin, 
of Howell, and Luther Willard, of Detroit, erected 
a frame for a flouring mill on section 22. Benjamin 
Cardell bought it in 1848, built a saw mill near the 
former site in 1849^ and in 1851 sold it to James 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 19 

Q. HoUis, who completed the flouiing mill. Ira 
Brayton is the present proprietor. In 1856, William, 
Albert, and Aaron Dorrence built a steam saw mill 
on section 17. William B. Smith and Franklin Kelly 
own it at present. In 1850, George W. Kneeland, 
S. B. Slyter and D. D. T. Chandler erected a steam 
saw mill in the Tillage, In 1851 it was destroyed by 
fire. In 1852 George W. Kneeland built another on 
its site. It is now owned by persons residing in 
Cohoctah. About 1840, Gardner Mason planted a 
nursery on section 35. Subsequently he removed it 
to the western part of the township. Mr. Mason 
died July 30th, 1853. A few years later, Dr. Gard- 
ner Wheeler established a nursery on section 35. 

The first foundry was established in the village by 
Nathan J. Hickey and John H. Galloway, in 1844. 
It was situated on East street north. They sold it 
to Abijah W. Smith, who subsequently took Dexter 
Filkins as a partner. In about two months after, the 
foundry was burned. In 1857, Abijah W. Smith 
erected another foundry on East street south. In 
1860, it also, was consumed by fire. William R. 
Melvin's wagon and blacksmith shops were burned at 
the same time. In 1860, Benjamin Curtis and Henry 
Curtis built a foundry on the site of the one de- 
stroyed. In 1863 they constructed a first class steam 
engine for propelling shop machinery. It was the 
first steam engine made in Howell. In 1864, Floyd 
Wykoff became proprietor of the foundry. In 1849, 
Stephen Clark built a foundry, situated on the north 
side of Grand River street and west of Centre street. 
In 1859, George W. Taylor and George L. Clark be- 
came proprietors of the property. In 1864, George 
W. Taylor sold his interest in the property, and John 



20 HISTORY OF HOWELL. 

H. Galloway became the partner of Clark. In the 
spring of 1867, Floyd WykoflFand Hudson B. Black- 
man were added to the firm. The Livingston Courier, 
the first newspaper published in the county, was 
removed by Nicholas Sullivan, its publisher, to How- 
ell, on the 11th day of October, 1843. Lewis H. 
Hewitt was its first editor, and the first number was 
issued in 1846. Mr. Sullivan sold it to E. E. Pow- 
ell. In December, 1848, Mr. Powell sold the paper 
to William B. Smith. Mr. Smith sold it to George 
P. Eoot, in April, 1856. Mr. Root published it one 
year and then suspended it. Nicholas Sullivan, of 
whom mention is made herein, died March 2l8t, 
1857. 

The Livinyslon Democrat was established on the 
ruins of the Livingston Courier, August 5th, 1857, 
by Joseph T. Titus, its present editor and proprietor. 
Another paper, called the Livingston RepuUican, was 
started the last of April, 1855. It was conducted 
for some time by Harman and Lewis Smith, and 
finally sold by them to George L. Sage, who sold it 
in 1862 to Mr. James Bowers. Mr. Bowers died 
November 4th, 1866, and on the 1st of January, 
1867, the paper became the property of Messrs. An- 
drew D. Waddell and Julius D. Smith. 

On the evening of September 28th, 1857, Howell 
was visited by a destructive fire. All the build- 
ings on Grand River street, between Walnut and 
East streets, were consumed, including a large hotel 
owned by Wm. E. Huntley. 

In the month of March, 1855, about thirty ladies, 
who had become a good deal excited over the unre- 
strained sale of liquor, visited the saloon of Samuel 
Balcom, and destroyed the liquor, and the casks 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 21 

which contained it. A portion of them were after- 
wards sued in an action of trespass for the damages, 
and a verdict of five hundred and forty dollars was 
rendered. 

In the month of October, 185G, an affray took 
place between Henry Hollis and George Obert. 
HoUis is said to have struck him with a neck-yoke. 
Obert lived but a few days, and Hoilis was arrested 
for his murder. The jury on the first trial failed to 
agree, and he never was brought to a final one. 

On the 20th of July, 1857, another affray occured 
between John Lagrange, (when intoxicated,) and 
Sanford S. Moore, which resulted in the death of 
Lagrange. The result of a coroner's inquest was, 
however, that Mr. Moore was exculpated. 

In the summer of 1863, a circus and menagerie, 
in combination, was exhibited at Howell, and while 
there one of the lions died. The showmen buried it 
on the old public square. 

In an early day, John W. Smith shot a grey eagle 
in this township, which measured over nine feet from 
tip to tip of its wings. 

Jesse Marr caught a pickerel with a spear, that 
weighed 21 pounds and 12 ounces. 

In the early settlement of the place, five elk were 
seen in the western part of the township. 

Two animals, known as Lynx, were caught in steel 
traps. Bears and wild cats were common game. 

In the autumn of 1834, a wolf pursued a deer in- 
to the door-yard of David Austin. On the wolf 's 
discovering the inmates of the bouse, it made its 
retreat, but the deer remained and was shot. In the 
fall of 1837, Henry Lake and his wife, with a young 
child, were returning fi'om a neighbor's in the even- 



22 HISTORY OF HOWELL. 

iug, and when within about thirty rods of their house, 
were attacked by wolves. One of them attempted 
to seize the child. It caught Mrs. Lake by her dress 
in making the effort, but finally through the exertions 
of Mr. Lake and his dog, the animals were driven 
off. 

As showing the wildness of the country at this 
period, and how^ full the country was of those " wild 
eyed wonders," the terror of the early settler, we 
have returned to transcribe a short narrative written 
for the Livingston Republican of the 19th of April, 
1864, by Miss Caroline Hitchcock, who formerly re- 
sided in Howell. It was related to her by a gentle- 
man formerly of Oakland county, and now living in 
Tuscola. The house of which she speaks as one mile 
from Livingston Centre, was the residence of David 
Austin, and the hotel at the Centre was kept by 
Amos Adams. Howell was formerly called Living- 
ston Centre. 

Til© Story. 

Some twenty-eight or thirty years ago, when the 
country was new, the times were very hard in Oak- 
land county. To get money for work was next to 
impossible. Just at that time there came glowing 
accounts of the good times " out west," on Grand 
River. My brother-in-law and myself resolved to 
go there and work through the summer. Accord- 
ingly, as soon as the weather settled in the spring, 
we began our journe}', driving before us a yoke of 
fat cattle, which we intended to sell upon arriving 
at our .destination. 

On our way out, wo crossed the Shiawassee river 
at a point where C.orunna now stands. There were 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 23 

then no settlements on the river; and only one soli- 
tary house where we crossed, known as " Knagg's" 
Trading Post. From thence we made our way through 
to Scott's place, on the Looking Glass river. Here 
we found but one house, used as a tavern, on the site 
of what is now known as DeWitt. From this point 
it was 24 miles through to Lyons prairie, on Grand 
river, and not a single house or clearing on the 
route. From the latter place we proceeded down the 
river, some 18 miles, to a new settlement, then called 
Dexter, but now known as Ionia. Here we disposed 
of our cattle for a good price, and went to work at 
two dollars per day at the carpenter business. The 
place was building up very fast, and was filled with 
people from all parts of the country, who were look- 
ing up and locating land — there being a land office 
here. Late in the fall, as I was nearly ready to start 

for home, I fell in with an old acquaintance, Mr. , 

a young lawyer from Oakland, who had been pur- 
chasing land. He informed me that he was about 
to return, and intended to pass through Livingston 
county, for the purpose of looking at some land 
which he owned, lying near Livingston Centre, and 
requested me to accompany him, as I was more ac- 
customed to traveling in the woods than he, to which 
I willingly consented. Being compelled to wait a 
few days for me to finish a job of work I had on 
hand, he proposed to go to Scott's place and await 
my coming. I agreed to this arrangement and he 
departed. After completing my work, I started on 
my return trip, and arrived at Scott's just after dark, 
very tired and hungry. I found many more people 
there than the house could accommodate, and the 
landlord nearly out of provisions. Wo all had our 



24 HISTORY or nOWELT,. 

suppers, which consumed about the entire stock of 
edibles on hand, and then retired to rest on the floor, 

without bed or blanket. In the morning, Mr. 

and myself found that we were rather poorly sup- 
plied for our tramp through the woods, having no 
breakfast to start with, and no provisions to carry 
along. But as it was forty miles back to where we 
would be likely to obtain supplies, w^e concluded to 
push ahead. Providing ourselves with a compass 
and some matches we made a start, feeling in good 
spirits, for we were homeward bound, and our pock- 
ets well lined with money. We crossed the river 
at Scott's, and guided by our compass, took as 
straight a course as practicable for Livingston Cen- 
tre. The first day we reached the Red Cedar river, 
at a small Indian village, called Okemos. From this 
place we followed up the river, as our maps informed 
us that we would have to pass through a swamp if 
we crossed here. When we arrived at the proper 
place for crossing, the water looked too deep, and we 
went up the stream still farther in hopes of finding 
a more shallow fording place. On and on we went 
up the river for several miles, meeting with no suc- 
cess, until, knowing that we would be compelled to 
make the same distance back, we determined to go 
no further. Accordingly we placed our compass, 
matches and money in our breast pockets, and step- 
ped into the water. We did not anticipate a pleas- 
ant bath, for the weather was very cold and the snow 
was falling briskly. The river bottom was covered 
with weeds, and proved to be much deeper than we 
supposed. We moved on cautiously, and the water 
had reached nearly to our arm pits, when suddenly 
down we both went, our hats floating away down 



HISTOKY UF HOWELL. '25 

stream. After considerable diving, plunging and 
scrabbling, we finally merged into the freezing air. 
The water which streamed from our hair and clothes, 
immediately formed into long icicles. We were in- 
deed in a sad plight. With long poles we succeeded 
in getting our hats, but our matches were wet, and 
we had no means of building a fire to warm our 
chilled bodies. What was to be done ? To remain 
standing there was certain death. We must keep in 
motion or perish ! The sky was overspread with 
thick clouds, the snow was falling fast, and night 
was near at hand. It would soon be too dark to 
move through the brush, but we concluded to travel 
down the river to the point where we were to strike 
into the woods, if possible. We had proceeded but 
a few rods, when we discovered the snow to be cov- 
ered with fresh tracks. " Look, said I, we are in the 
* midst of a large pack of wolves ! " " Is it possible?" 
asked my companion, his face growing very pale; 
" then we may as well resign ourselves to our fate, 
for nothing earthly can save us ! " " We have," said 
he, " no means of defense — no. not even a match to 
kindle a fire ! " " That," I remarked, " would be 
the most effectual of all means, but we must do some- 
thing, and that immediately. Not a moment is to 
be lost. Darkness is fast approaching, and the wolves 
will be upon us." Luckily we had with us an In- 
dian pipe, which served the double purpose of pipe 
and hatchet. With this I went to work cutting large 
cudgels, standing them together with one end on the 
ground, so as to be easily reached. But I soon saw 
that this labor was useless, for our hands were so be- 
numbed with cold, that it was impossible to wield 
them with any force. So abandoning this plan, we 



26. HlbTOHY UF iiuwi^xuiu. 

tried to think of another. I hit upon one which I 
thought would succeed. "Let us cut some long, 
slim whips," said I, " and strike them around this 
beech tree. They will make a noise resembling the 
report of a pistol, and will, perhaps, frighten them 
away." My companion gave a short " yes,'' to all 
my suggestions. At work I went, cutting the whips 
and piling them at our feet. While I was thus en- 
gaged, the yelp and whine of the hungry wolves, 
broke upon our ears from every direction — some of 
them being very near us in the brush. It was now 
quite dark, and yet we could distinguish the moving 
forms of the voracious animals, skulking among the 
trees. We each seized a whip and commenced beat- 
ing the tree and ground. But this did not have the 
effect anticipated. Nearer and nearer came the 
hungry beasts, sometimes within reach of our whips, 
dodging from side to side, and watching their op- 
portunity to spring upon us. We renewed our ex- 
ertions with all the energy and determination of men 
working for dear life. And by whirling around and 
keeping our whips continually going, we kept them 
at bay. The growling, fighting and snapping of 
teeth, from these exasperated brutes, was enough to 
appal the stoutest heart. How numerous they were 
we could not tell. Some of the time they would be 
engaged in a general fight, and again they would try 
to crowd each other upon us. The snow and earth 
beneath our feet being trodden together, formed a 
dark circle, within which they dared not venture. 
During all the long night we continued to beat the 
earth in the manner I have described. So incessant 
and absorbing was our labor, that not a word passed 
between us. Suddenly the noise of our tormentors 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 27 

was hushed. The wolves had disappeared— not one 
was to be seen. Daylight had come nnperceived by 
us, and our cowardly enemies had fled ! Once more 
we breathed freely, and for the first time in ten hours, 
stopped to rest. Seating ourselves on a log, we en- 
deavored to decide w^hat coui'se it was best to pur- 
sue. We should probably reach a settlement sooner 
by continuing on our intended route, but our com- 
pass would not work, and we were left without a 
guide in a trackless wilderness. We began to feel 
the need of food and rest very keenly, but these were 
not to be aj)peased here. Our lively exercise through 
the night had thoroughly warmed our bodies, and 
partially dried our clothes. There was no chance 
for our lives but to push ahead. Accordingly we 
made a start, but scarcely had we moved outside the 
circle, when we rushed back again. The physical 
and mental agony we had endured, had made us 
nearly wild, and this spot seemed to us our only 
place of safety. After reasoning with each other a 
few moments, we made another start, and this time 
succeeded in getting clear of the attractive place. 
All that day we contined our journey, and by taking- 
views of distant objects, managed to keep in a tole- 
rable straight line. My companion, not so much 
inured to hardships as myself, soon grew weak and 
faint. Many times during the day he fell down from 
sheer exhaustion, and declarecl he could go no 
further. However, by dint of persuasion, I succeeded 
in raising him to his feet each time. During the 
afternoon we became bewildered, and for the third 
time came back to the same large tree that we had 
previously used as an object. Here my fellow trav- 
eler became thoroughly disheartened and said he 



28 HISTORY OF HOWELL. 

could uoi possibly take another step. Taking Lis 
money from his pocket and presenting it to me, he 

said " take this to Miss G , if you live to get 

through. You may yet see home, but I must die 
here. Never mind me — go and save yourself ! " 1 
tried every available means to get him started again. 
I even laughed and joked, while my own heart was 
fast sinking. After a long time thus spent, he once 
more resumed the tramp. Night was fast approach- 
ing, and we began to look around for some open 
space in which to pass it. A high piece of ground, 
where the timber was not very thick, w^as selected, 
and we commenced our preparations of defense 
against the wolves, whoso visit we again expected. 
After cutting a pile of whips, we placed our backs 
against a large tree, and awaited the commencement 
of hostihties. While standing in this position I 
discovered a iiickering light at a distance. "We 
watched it eagerly for some time, trying to decide 
what it could be. At times it would entirely disap- 
pear, and again flash up quite brilliantly. Finally 
we concluded to go to it at all hazards, and ascer- 
tain what it meant. Upon arriving in the vicinit}-, 
we saw two squaws and an Indian boy seated around 
the fire, in front of a small tent. As soon as we 
made our appearance they ran into the brush like 
wild deer. AVe were anxious to communicate with 
them, for it was in their power to save us. Fortu- 
nately, I could speak a little of the Indian language, 
and that little was spoken in as loud a voice as I 
could then command. They soon came shying back, 
and we approached nearer the fire. No sooner did 
my companion feel the warmth, than he fainted 
away. The squaws commenced rubbing his face 



HISTORY OP HOWEI-L. 29 

with Biiow, and in a short time he again revived, but 
was very feeble. One of the squaws then pounded 
up some parched corn, placed it in a basin over the 
fire, and when sufficiently cooked, added thereto 
some oil which emitted a most unpleasant smell. 
This mixture she offered the sick man, but he was 
loth to take it. I persuaded him to try a few 
mouthsful, but no sooner did he swallow it than he 
vomited it up. In fact, it left him in a worse condi- 
tion than before. It seemed as though day light 
would never appear, but it came at last, the sky be- 
ing dark and gloomy as ever. We questioned the 
squaws respecting the distance to Livingston Centre, 
to which they replied by lifting up both hands, indi- 
cating many miles. Perceiving that they had a 
bridle in their possession, we inferred that a pony 
was not far distant. Thereupon I offered them three 
dollars to pilot us through, ani let my sick comrade 
ride him. To this proposition they readily consented, 
and sent the boy in search of the animal. Fearing 
that the little fellow would not succeed in securing 
the prize, I concluded to accompany him, but I had 
better kept away, for as soon as the pony espied me 
he tossed up his head, gave one snort, and flew from 
sight. One of the squaws then took the bridle and 
started in pursuit of the runaway. In a short time 
she returned leading the pony, but no sooner did 
my companion approach him than he again became 
frightened, and jumped about in a very wild manner. 
The squaws then threw a blanket over his head, and 
by this means he was mounted. After being seated 
on the pony, the squaws wrapped a blanket around 
my companion, and after giving directions to the 
boy what course to pursue, and where to meet them 



80 HISTORY OF nOWELL. 

at night, bade him start. On and on we went, 
through swamps and over hills, the little pony bravely 
carrying his load, and the boy and myself walking 
by his side. It often seemed to me that the lad was 
guiding us wrong, but on mentioning my fears to 
him, he would only shake his head and grunt " kah ! " 
We were doomed to pass another day without food 
or rest, but towards night our eyes were greeted with 
the sight of a rail fence, a sure mark of civilization. 
We soon emerged from the woods into an open field, 
and approached a small log house. Upon reachiug 
this long desired haven, I assisted ray companion to 
dismount, and we entered Our wants were soon 
made known to the inmates, and a table was soon 
spread for our accommodation ; but we were so com- 
pletely exhausted, that it was with great difficulty 
we moved from the fire to the table. We had not 
so far lost our judgment as to at once satisfy the crav- 
ings of our appetite, so we ate very spariugly. Not 
so, however, with our Indian guide, who swallowed 
plateful after plateful, until literally gorged with food. 
After finishiug his supper, we gave him the price 
stipulated, and mounting his pony, he scampered 
for the woods. Upon inquiriug of our hostess con- 
cerning our whereabouts, she informed us that we 
were within one mile of Livingston Centre, on the 
farm afterwards owned by Kev. E. E. Gregory. Af- 
ter remaining here long enough to get rested, we 
walked down to the hotel at the Centre. Here we 
were treated very kindly, and furnished with a good 
bed. We were awakened by being shaken and hauled 
about in a strange manner, and upon being aroused 
were told that it was late in the morning, and that 
they had experienced considerable difficulty in break- 



H1«TUIIY 01:' HOWiiLL. 31 

iug our sleep. Livingston Centre then contained 
but two or three buildings besides the hotel. From 
this place we hired a team to take us home, which 
we were not long in reaching. Subsequently Mr. 

had a severe fit of sickness, but he survived the 

shock, and was soon afterward married to Miss G — , 
and they are even now enjoying life together." 

While upon this line of information, it may not 
be improper to say, that as late as the year 1845, 
Wilham Lewis was on his way to a neighbor's, and 
when about sixty rods from his house he encountered 
three bears. He shot and wounded one — he re- 
loaded his rifle and wounded another, when the first 
bear he wounded made an attack upon him. He 
was obliged to retreat to keep out of the bear's way, 
but it pursued hioa to within a few rods of his 
house, Francis Monroe, his near neighbor, went to 
assist him. They made an attack upon the bears 
and killed one of them, but the other two made their 
escape. Mr. Lewis was the champion hunter of 
Howell. He killed five full-grown deer in one day; 
three of them at one shot, with a single ball. He 
killed five full-grown wild turkeys at two shots, with 
a single-barreled rifle. In the early days of har- 
mony and sport, it had come to pass that a bear had 
made havoc of the herds of swine and flocks of 
sheep of the farmers of the township of Howell; 
and Joseph Hogle said untp Abraham Van Nest, 
** let us pursue the bear even unto its death ! '' Ac- 
cordingly they went in pursuit of bruin, with their 
dogs and guns. Howbeit, they had not traveled far 
in the woods, before Abraham said unto Joseph, " we 
shall not find the bear, and I will return home." 
Nevertheless, Joseph was a man of courage and de- 



32 HISTORY UF HO WELL. 

termination, and his sheep and hogs were in danger, 
and he said unto Abraham, "the bear must be 
killed ! " and he continued the pursuit, while Abra- 
ham returned unto his own house. But a short time 
elapsed before Joseph heard the barking of dogs, 
and hastened to the scene of action. Forsooth he 
beheld the game — fired his rifle, and the ball struck 
bruin behind the shoulder. Notwithstanding, he 
did not expire until he had received six shots. The 
bear was exceedingly large and fat, and after it was 
dressed its carcass and hide weighed six hundred 
and forty pounds. And the neighbors of Joseph 
rejoiced and were glad that bruin was dead; and 
they had a jollification, and partook freely of a bev- 
erage called metheglin, insomuch that they became 
exceedingly cheerful through its effects, and each 
neighbor on returning to his own house, often devi- 
ated from a straight line. 

Military MaiierSt &,c, 

A rifle company was organized in the township of 
Howell in 1844. The commissioned officers of the 
company were William Lewis, Captain; Ira Bray ton, 
1st Lieutenant, and Emmet Smith, 2d Lieutenant. 
The first military parade of this company was at 
the residence of John W. Smith, on section 28. A 
few years after the company was organized, military 
duty was not required by the State Government, 
consequently the company was disbanded. In the 
year 1861, the following persons of the township 
and village enlisted and mustered into the United 
States service in the war of the Rebellion : 



HISTORY OP HOWELL. 



33 



Andrew J. Bishop, promoted to a Cap- 
taincy. 

Solomon S. Lyon, Captain. 

William Brown, Captain. 

Hudson B. Blackman, 1st Lieut, and 
Quartermaster. 

Andrew D. Waddell, 1st Lieut. 

Harris A. Hickok, Adjutant. 

Frederick Angel, 2d Lieut. 



Everett Sargent, 2d Lieut. 

James Mulloy, 2d Lieut. 

Jabesh A. Pond, Sergt. — killed. 

Bernard Ryder, Sergt., died of dis- 
ease. 

Jonathan Sharp, Sergt., takon pris- 
oner and died. 

William Pullen, wounded. 



SERGKANTS RETrRNED, 

Franklin Goodrich, 
Charles Lake, 
Jared L. Cook, 
Edgar Noble. 



George Stafford, 
Stephen Fishbeck, 
Luther Frink, 
James Fitzgerald, 

CORPORALS KILLED, WOUNDED OR DIKD OF DISEASE. 

Joseph Pruden, ] Gardner S. Smith, 

Jerome Buckland, John Lake. 

Edwin Hart, 



Jerome PhiUips, 
Simon Dolph, 
Sylvenus Dolph, 
Thomas G. Marr, 
Eli Rambo, 
Abraham Sintzer, 
Jerome Barrett, 
George Lake, 
Edwin H. Smith, 
Chester Albright, 
Isaac Felter, 



Lyman Carl, 
Andrew J. Carl, 
John Hildebrant, 
Sherwood Hart, 
Jacob Zeely, 
Philander Helms, 
Charles Brockway, 
Reuben McFall, 
Simon Child, 



David Robertson, 
WiUiam Cooper, 
William Cooper, Jr. 
Frederick Zeits, 
George Axtell, 
Norton Monroe, 
Noah Boothley, 



Peter May, 
Franklin B. Abbott, 
Orrin G. Wells, 

B 



PRIVATES KILLED OR DIED OF WOUNDS. 

James Canfleld, 
Samuel Sutton, 
Merritt Pullen, 
Charles Smith, 
Peter Wall, 
Theodore Washburn, 
Amizee Axtell, 
Henry Carl, 
Philo Curtis, 
James Dewitt, 
Henry Preston. 

DIED OF DISEASE. 

George Pennell, 
Reuben C. Smith, 
John Cummings, 
William Curtis, 
John Dorn, 
George Newton, 
William L. Whited, 
Daniel Morse. 

PRIVATES WOUNDED IN BATTLE. 

Sidney Carpenter, 
Charles Culver, 
John Tompkins, 
Alvah G. Blood, 
James Monroe, 
Vernon C. Smith. 

PRIVATES WHO RETURNED SAFE. 

I Andrew WoU, 
Peter Woll, Jr., 
Thomas Gilchrist, 



34 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 



Andrew J. Allen. 
Charles Hildebrant, 
Cyrus Carpenter, 
George Reed, 
James Reed, 
Cornelius Helms, 
John Daniels, 
Marion Hart, 
Jerome Helms, 
Leonard Helms, 
Henry Helms, 
Edwin Ware, 
William Clayton, 
Giles Donnelly, 
Joseph Preston, 
Chester F. Goodrich, 
William E. Bennett, 
Frank Whipple, 
Erwin Child, 
Marcus Child, 
Andrew J. Whitaker, 
George Wright, 
Henry Wright, 
David Wright, 
Theodore Huntly, 
George Bronner, 
Julius D. Smith, 
J. B. McLean, 
Henry Stansell, 
Amos Smith, 
Isaac Van Loon, 
Howard Glover, 
William Bennett, 
Martin Woll. 



Frederick Galloway, 
John Park, 
Edmund Hart, 
Edwin McKinley. 
Daniel Ellenwood, 
Elias E. Brockway, 
George F. Brockway, 
James E. White, 
Asa McFall, 
Ezra Whitaker, 
Azel Carpenter, 
William Brooks, 
James Larowe, 
Henry Larowe, 
George Blackman, 
Lewis Tupper, 
Henry Musson, 
William Tate, 
Asa Wilson, 
Orson Deming, 
John Ferguson, 
Reuben Warren, 
Henry Boothby, 
Rinaldo Balcom, 
Sidney Harington, 
Silas Peterson, 
Vertcll Baker, 
George Whited, 
William Yandercook. 
John Boothby, 
Thomas Donnelly, 
Franklin Jordan,' 
Andrew McKeeuc. 
Allen Stearnes. 



It may here be worthy of remark that Bernard 
B. Smith, a resident of the village, and a printer by 
trade, was engaged in sixty-two battles during the 
civil war. 

Henry Carl and Andrew J. Carl were sons of David 
Carl, deceased. 

Gardner S. Smith, Reuben C. Smith and Edwin 
H. Smith were sons of the author of this volume. 



It will be seen that we have been forced to be 
somewhat desultory in this book, and that, too, from 
the very limitations of the history. A sparseness of 
facts always renders classification and method very 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 



35 



difficult. While i« the way of giving lists of names, 
we will present the names of those who settled in 
Howell before 1838, but have since removed. They 
are as follows: 



Joseph Porter, 
Whitely Woodruff, 
David H. Austin, 
Leny Lyon, 
Daniel Hotchkiss, 
Len Hotchkiss, 
Jonathan Austin, 
Alvin Crittenden, 
Merritt S. Havens, 
Francis Field, ' 
Alexander Fraser, 
F. J. B. Crane, 
John B. Kneeland, 
Nathan T. Kneeland, 
Morgan Lyon, 
Justin Durfee, 
John Russel, 



Peter Brewer, 
Solomon Pettingiil, 
Henry Pettingiil 
James E. Head, 
Oliver Reed, 
Gottleib Schraft, 
Jacob Schj-aft, 
Watson G. Thomas,, 
Peter Johnson, 
William Hudson, 
Sherburne Crane, 
John F. Watson, 
0. J. Field, 
Henry Tobias, 
Josiah P. Jewitt,- 
Hezekiah Gate?, 
Huram Bristol. 



We also herewith append the names of those who 
have settled in the township or village, since the 1st 
of May, 1838, but who have since died or moved 
away. They are as follows: 



CARPENTERS— REMOVED. 



Joseph Grant, 
Elijah CoCTreu 
Isaac Peterson, 
Abraham Peterson, 



Norman Dexter, 
Galen Phillips, 



Edmund Hart, 



Ezekiel Sabin, 
Adam Korabachee, 
William McOmber, 
Henrj' Games, 
Levi Hoyt, 



Eli Snyder, 



Solomon Shy, 
Hiram Pearson, 
William Miles. 



CARPENTERS — DEAD. 

I William Barrett, 
I Philo Curtis. 

MILLWRIGHTS— REMOVED. 

I 
BLACKSMITHS —REMOVED. 

1 James Haines, 



James Phelps, 
Ira Emerick, 
James Lawther, 
William Stedman. 



MASON'S- REMOVED. 

I John Jones 



36 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 



Levi Hiscock, 



Eli Carpenter, 
Almon Hiscock, 



BOOT AND SHOEMAKERS — KEMOVED. 

I Barnhart & Harger. 

HARNESS MAKERS — REMOVED. 

I James Fitzgerald. 

TAILORS — REMOVED. 



Malloy & Harington, 
Alonzo Curtis, 



William Malune, 



Lewis Damon, 
Owen Chapman, 



Sidney Hollister, 



I William Dunlap, 
I William Brown. 

TAILORS— DEAD. 

I Daniel Sweeney, 

TINNERS— REMOVED . 

I Charles Barbour. 

JEWELERS- REMOVED. 

I John Long. 

MERCHANTS— REMOVED. 



Enos B. Taylor, 

R. A. Beal, 

Hamilton & Peebles— Peebles retired. 

Hinman k Bush— Bush died. 

Clark & Hopkins, 

Franklin Lombard, 

William Carlisle, 

N. G. Isbell, 

Loren K. Hewett, 



Josiah Turner, 
Gideon Rarasdoll, 
William Riddle, 
John Bush, 
Albert Pixley, 
Jessee Rumsey, 
Lemuel Spooner, 
John D. Gifford. 



Lewis H. Hewett, 
Loren K. Hewett, 
Josiah Turner, 
Jerome Turner, 
Richard Hall, 
James H. Ackerman, 



Charles A. Jeffries, 
Nicholas Hurd, 
William Doalman, 



Rev. Mr. 
Rev. Mr. 
Rev. Mr. 
Rev. Mr. 
Rev. Mr. 
Rev. Mr. 
Rev. Mr. 
Rev. Mr. 
Rev. Mr. 
Rev. Mr. 
Rev. Mr. 



ATTORNEYS — REMOVED. 

John B. Dillingham, 
William A. Clark, 
Justin Sawyer, 
John Farnsworth, 
C. C. Ellsworth, 
Burt Wheedon. 

PnYSlCIAXS — REMOVED. 

I Thomas R. Spence, 
H. J. Rumsey, died. 



CLERGY— 


REMOVED. 


Ro-scoe, 


Rev. Mr. McBride, 


Eaton, 


Rev. Mr. Banwell, 


Westlake, 


Rev. Mr. Grannis, 


Gregory, 


Rev. Mr. Mills, 


White, 


Rev. Mr. Dayfoot, 


Bridge, 


Rev. Mr. Dean, 


Howell, 


Rev. Mr. Lilley, 


Cochrane, 


Rev. Mr. Cochrane, 


Bassey, 


Rev. Mr. Kennedy, 


Bachman, 


Rev. Mr. Sutton. 


Root, 





HISTORY OF HOWELL. 37 

Buildings»By Wlioui Owned and Erected* 

The east business building on the north side of 
Grand Eiver street, is a brick one, three stories high, 
and erected by Geo W. Lee and F. J. Lee. It is 
now owned by Francis Monroe, E. P. Gregory and 
Henry Mills. Next on the west is a frame building, 
erected by William H. Buckland, and now owned by 
Leonard Haynes. The third and fourth are frame 
buildings, built and now owned by Almon "Whipple. 
The fifth is a three story brick structure, built by 
Almon Whipple and George Greenaway, and now 
owned by Greenaway. The first building on the 
west side of East street, is a frame one erected by 
William Riddle, and now owned by Alexander Mc- 
Pherson. The second one west is a brick structure, 
built by Isaac W. Bush and Jno. McPherson, and now 
owned by Joseph B. Skillbeck and McPherson Sons. 
The third is a frame building, owned by John J. Van 
Dusen. • The fourth is a frame building owned 
by Mrs. Naylor. The fifth is a two story brick 
building, erected by Luther Glover, and the sixth, a 
frame building, both of which are owned by Wm. 
L. Knapp and M. J. Staley. The seventh is a frame 
building, owned by F. D. Sabin. The first building 
west of Walnut street, is a two story brick structure, 
erected by James Lawther. The second and third 
are frame buildings, all owned by B, W. Cardell. 
Fourth is a frame building, built and owned by Geo. 
Greenaway. The two first buildings west of Centre 
street, are frame buildings, owned by the firm of 
Clark, Wykoff, Galloway & Blackman. The first 
shop west of Chestnut street, is a frame one, owned 
by Wilson Sowles. The second is a two story 



38 HISTORY OF HOWELL. 

frame building, owned by John G. Mason and Geo. 
W. Clark. 

Commencing on the south side of Grand Kiver 
street, the first building east of Walnut street, is a 
frame one, erected by Daniel Sweeney, and now 
owned by Edward McGum. The second is the Post 
Office. The third is a frame building owned by 
Thomas Donnelly. The fourth is a two story brick 
structure, erected by William Jewett and Z. Fobes 
Crossman, and Brockway, and Embury. It is now 
owned by those persons. The fifth one is a two 
story fi-ame building, erected by William B. Smith, 
and now owned by L. C. Dean and John Jones. 

The first building east of East slreet, is a two 
story frame building, well known as Union Hall, 
and now owned by V. K. T. Angell. The present 
landlords are Messrs. Harvey and Coleman. The 
second one is also two stories high, and a frame 
structure, owned by Ira C. Huntley. Thii-d — a three 
story brick building, erected by Derastus Hinman, 
Richard P. Bush and Loren K. Hewett, and now 
owned by John H. Galloway and Sardis F. Hubbell. 
The fourth one is a two story frame building, erected 
and owned by Jas. Swiney. The fifth is a two story 
brick building, erected by Edward F. Gay, in 1843. 
It was the first brick structure in Howell. It is 
owned by Elbert C. Bush. Sixth — a two story frame 
building erected by William B. Smith, and at pres- 
ent owned by Andrew Blanck. The seventh, eighth 
and ninth are owned by the heirs of Nicholas Sulli- 
van. The tenth is a two story frame buil-ding, owned 
by Milo L. Gay. The eleventh is a frame structure, 
owned by Jacob H. Fourge. The twelfth is a frame 
building, erected by O. J. Field, and now owned by 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 39 

the heirs of Joseph M. Gilbert. The thirteenth is a 
frame building, owned by William R. Griffith. The 
fourteenth and fifteenth are frame structures, erected 
by Levi Hiscock and Almon Hiscock, and now owned 
by John Cummisky. The first building east of Court 
street, is a two story frame structure, erected by 
William Shaft, and now owned by Handel Winship. 
The first two shops south of Grand River street, and 
on the west side of East street, are two story frame 
buildings, erected and owned by William R. Melvin. 
The first three buildings south of Sibley street, and 
on the west side of East street, are owned by Messrs. 
Clark, Wykoff, Galloway and Blackman. The first 
buildiDg "south of Sibley street, on the east side of 
East street, is the livery stable of William E. Hunt- 
ley and Ira C. Huntley The first buildings south 
are the wagon and blacksmith shops of Francis 
Melvin. The three shops situated north of Grand 
River street, and on east side of East street, are 
owned b^ Almon Whipple. 

History of Clmrcli and Other Organization*. 

As respects the Methodist denomination, a class 
of seven members was formed at Howell, in the year 
1837. That same year a quarterly meeting was held 
in the village. Rev. John Cosort was their Pastor 
at that time. In the year 1855, they built a very 
comfortable frame church. It is situated south of 
Grand River street, and on the east side of Walnut 
street. Their present membership is about eighty. 

The Presbyterian Church was organized the 16th 
day of June, 1838. Rev. Henry Root was the first 
Pastor. The number of members at the organiza- 
tion was twenty-five. In 1839, they built a small 



40 HISTORY OF HOWELL. 

frame Church. In 1855, they built a brick Church, 
which is located on the south side of Sibley street. 
Kev. E. McBride was their Pastov at that time. Their 
present membership is 160. 

The Baptist Church was organized in 1837, with a 
membership of nine. Reorganized June 2l8t, of 
the same year. Rev. E. Mosher was their first Pastor. 
He was hired at a salary of $100 a year and board, 
and was ordained at Howell, May 9th, 1839. They 
built a frame Church in 1852. Their Church is sit- 
uated north of Grand River street, and on the east 
side of Court street. Their present membership is 
126. 

A Congregational Church was organized in the 
village of Howell, in 1849 — and was legalized in 
1850. Their Church at once advanced to the num- 
ber of fifty-two members, but has since declined. 
They built a brick Church in 1853, north of Grand 
River street, and on the east side of Court street. 

The Howell Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, 
was established in 1849. The first officers of the 
Lodge were Amos Adams, W. M. ; James Fitzgerald, 
S. W.; Gardner Wheeler, J. W.; William T. Curtis, 
Treasurer; Warren Green, Secretary; Odell J. Smith, 
S. D. ; Ichabod Kneeland, J. D. 

The Livingston Chapter, No. 30, of Royal Arch 
Masons, was organized April 16th, 1863. The Chap- 
ter members were Charles W. Haze, H. P.; S. F. 
Hubbell, K.; M. B. Wilcox, S.; D. Farnum, C. H.; 
Joseph T. Titus, P. S.; H. H. Harmon, R. A. C; W. 
B. GreeD, O. 1st V.; George Wilber, O. 2d V.; W. 
A. Clark, O. 3d V. 

The Eastern Star Family, connected with the Ma- 
sonic Lodge of Howell, No. 38, was organized March 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 41 

6th, 1867. The following were elected officers: 
Worthy Patroness, Mrs. Z. F. Grossman; Warren 
Green, Conductor; J. Finsterwald, Conductor; Mrs. 
E. B. Gregory, Eecorder; Mrs. W. W. Carpenter, 
Treasurer; Miss Emily Wheeler, Jeptha's Daughter; 
Mrs. M. B. Wilcox, Ruth; Mrs. S. F. Hubbell, Esther; 
Mrs. H. H. Harmon, Martha; Miss Eliza Richards, 
Electa; Mrs. J. M. Gilbert, S. F. Hardy, Watchmen. 

An Odd Fellows Lodge was organized at Howell 
in 1849. The first officers were Josiah Turner, N. 
G.; L. K. Hewett, V. G.; Lemuel Spooner, P. S.; 
John A. Wheeler, R. S. ; James Mulloy, T. 

A Lodge of the Independent Order of Good 
Templars, was organized in Howell in 1865. The 
present membership is 250. 

The Tillage of Howell was incorporated March 
14, 1863. The first officers of the corporation were 
Sardis F. Hubbell, President; Andrew D. Waddell, 
Recorder; Asa Van Kleek, Treasurer; John H. Gal- 
loway, Assessor; Marcus B. Wilcox, William K. 
Melvin, Wm. McPherson, Jr., John Hoyt and Philo 
Curtis, Trustees. 

It may not be improper here to state that the 
Detroit and Howell R. R Co. was formed June 17th, 
1864. The first officers of the company were T. T. Lyon, 
of Plymouth, President; E. F. Burt, of Marion, Sec- 
retary; Wm. McPherson, of Howell, Treasurer; 
T. T. Lyon, Wm. Taft, Geo. A. Starkweather and 
S. Hardenburgh, of Plymouth, D. C. Abell, of Dear- 
born, J. N. Swift, of Northville, J. H. Galloway, J. 
H. Wilcox, of Howell, E. F. Burt, of Marion, Ly- 
man Judson, E. F. Albright, of Brighton, Royal C. 
Rumsey, of Green Oak, and Ely Barnard, of Genoa, 
Directors; I. W. Bush, Giks Tucker, of Howell, J. N. 



42 HISTORY OF HOWELL. 

Swift, P. B. Holdridge, of Northville, and Hiram 
Newman, of Plymouth, Commissioners; Wm. Scott, 
Chief Engineer. Work began on the road in the 
spring of 1867. 

Miscellaueous Departineuts. 

A cemetery was located at the village in the year 
1840. One on Sec. 8 in 1848; one on Sec. 17 in 
1850, and one on Sec. 22 in 1853. A cemetery con- 
taining 15.44 acres of land was established on the 
N. W. i of N. E. J of Sec. 36, for the accommoda- 
tion of both township and village in 1867. 

The Livingston county court-house and jail was 
erected at the village in 1847, Enos B. Taylor, of 
Howell, contractor. The building for the offices of 
county clerk and register of deeds were erected in 
1849, George W. Lee and Frederick J. Lee, con-, 
tractors. The building for the office of county 
treasurer and judge of probate was erected in 1853, 
John B. Kneeland, contractor. 

A two-story brick school-house, thirty-six feet in 
length and twenty-six feet in width, was erected in 
the village in 1849, Elijah Cofifren, of Howell, con- 
tractor. An addition of forty-eight feet in length 
and twenty-six feet in width was made to the school- 
house in 1856; John B. Kneeland, contractor. 

Biograplnical Sketches. 

Villeroy E. Smith settled in the townehip in May, 
1835. He was interested in literature, and was a 
school teacher by profession. He died in the town 
of Marion, December 30th, 1851, while engaged in 
this business. 

Moses Thompson, by occupation a farmer, settled 



HISTOBY OF HOWELL. 43 

in the township in June, 1835. He was a man who 
was generous and humane. He died the 2d of 
December, 1841. 

Edward Thompson, a farmer, settled here the 
same year, and died April 16, 1842. 

Nathaniel Johnson, a man of respectability, and 
a farmer, settled in the township in the autumn of 
1835. He died January 25, 1852. 

Amos Adams settled in the village in November, 

1835. He was a man who was industrious and en- 
terprisiDg — a very vakiable person in a new country. 
He died the 14th of May, 1855. He was buried 
with Masonic rites. 

Joseph Tucker settled in the village in 1836. He 
was by trade a carpenter. Died in 1862. 

Victory Curtis settled in the township in 1836. 
He was a farmer and a person of integrity. Died 
August 13th, 1848. George Curtis and John Curtis, 
sons of Victory, came with their father to Howell. 
Subsequently they moved to the village. George 
Curtis kept a hotel, and his brother John embarked 
in the mercantile business. The former died Octo- 
ber 4th, 1848, and the latter, December 7th, 1841. 

Benjamin J. Spring settled in the township in 

1836. Subsequently he removed to the village and 
was the proprietor and keeper of a hotel. He was 
also a mail contractor, and was the first person who 
established a lino of commodious stages on the 
Detroit and Howell road. He was very humorous 
and witty, and the old citizens will not soon forget 
the msmy faceiice of their quondam neighbor. He 
died December 25th, 1853. 

Hiram Bennett settled in the township in 1836. 
He was accidentally killed by the falling of a tub 



44: HISTORY Oi- HOWELL. 

while engaged in digging a well. He died June 
9, 1855. 

Clement Stebbins settled in the township in 1836. 
Died November 11th, 1861 

Job Case came to the township in 1836. Died 
October 9th, 1854. 

Odell J. Smith came to the township in 1837. He 
was an enterprising farmer and held several impor- 
tant local offices. Died January 23d, 1861. 

John, James and Aaron Lagrange settled in the 
township in 1837. Jamea died May 9th, 1857, and 
Aaron, December 9th, 1853. 

George W. Jewett settled in the village in 1837. 
In 1840 he was elected register of deeds for Liv- 
ingston county. He was also county treasurer one 
term. In 1845 he was appointed Clerk of the 
House of Representatives of Michigan. Died, Feb- 
ruary 12th, 1851. 

Ebenezer West, a farmer, came to the town in 
1837. Died abou* the year 1849. 

Mathew West, also a farmer, cayne the same year, 
and died about the same year. 

Rial Lake, a farmer, settled in the township in 
1837. He had a collegiate education, and was in- 
dustrious and enterprising. Died December 29th, 
1851. 

John Marr settled on section 8 in the township in 
1839. He died February 6th, 1860. 

Lemuel Monroe, came into the township in May, 
1849, and lived with his son, Francis Monroe. He 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and died 
April 29 th, 1854, at the age of ninety-five jears, 
one month and twenty -nine days. 

Richard P. Bush settled in the township of Handy 



HISTOKY OF HOWELL. 45 

in 1837. He removed to the village of Howell in 
1844. He died August 28th, 1853. He was twice 
elected Sheriff of Livingston county. 

Daniel Case settled in the township in 1836. He 
has been honored with several local offices, and 
"still lives." 

In the month of June, 1836, Henry Lake settled 
in the township. He is now the owner of a large 
farm in the western part of the same, and is in easy 
circumstances. 

Geo. W. Kneeland settled in the township in No- 
vember, 1836. In 1810 was elected judge of pro- 
bate — reelected in 1844. In 1849 he was elected a 
member of the House of Representatives. In 1851 
he removed to the village of Howell, where he still 
resides. 

Giles Tucker settled in the village in 1836. He 
was a carpenter by trade. He has been sheriff of 
Livingston county two years. He is at present in 
the grocery business. 

William McPherson migrated from Scotland July 
23d, 1836, and came into Howell village September 
17th of the same year. He at first followed the 
business of blacksmithing, and afterwards entered 
into mercantile pursuits, in which he has been 
eminently successful, and has become affluent. 

Joseph H. Steel settled in the village in 1836. He 
bought Crane & Brooks' hotel in 1837. He moved to 
the town of Oceola in 1840, and returned to the village 
in 1843. Afterwards, he again removed to Oceola, 
and staid there till 1848, when he again returned. 

E. F. Gay settled in the village on the 1st day of 
April, 1837. He is a gentleman of enterprise and 
intelligence. 



46 HIbTORY OF HOWELL. 

Almon Whipple settled in the township of Handy, 
Livingston county, in 1836. He removed to How- 
ell in 1837, and went into the mercantile business, 
which he followed until 1859. He was elected 
County Clerk in 1837, and County Treasurer in 
1839. He was also Post Master six years. Mr. 
Whipple has become wealthy. 

Francis Monroe settled in the township on the 1st 
day of June, 1837. He still retains the same laud 
he purchased of the Government, and has become 
rich. 

Abraham A. Van Nest settled- in the township in 
1837. He also, is a substantial farmer. 

Josiah Turner, an attorney and counselor at law, 
emigrated from Vermont and settled in the village 
in April, 18-10. He was appointed County Clerk, to 
fill a vacancy, in 1842, and was elected to the same 
office the same year. He was re-elected in 1844. 
Was elected and re-elected Cotmty Judge in the 
years 1846 and 1850. He was elected Circuit Judge 
for the Seventh Judicial District of the State of 
Michigan, in April, 1857, for the term of six years. 
By virtue of this office he became one of the Justices 
of the Supreme Court of the State. He was re- 
elected in 1863, and is still on the bench. Mr. Turner 
removed to the city of Owosso on tke 9th day of 
July, 1860, from the fact that all the parts of his 
district were more accessible from that point. 

Sardis F. Hubbell, Esq., came to reside perma- 
nently in Howell, in the year 1854. In the same 
year he was elected Circuit Court Commissioner for 
the county, and was elected and re-elected Prosecu- 
ting Attorney, in the years 1862 and 1864. 

John H. Galloway settled in the village in 1844. 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 47 

He has been a prominent Kepublican, and was elected 

to the Senate in 1860. 

George and Frederick J. Lee settled in the village 
in 1845. Both have become wealthy. 

Frederick C. Whipple, an attorney and counselor 
at law, settled in the village in 1846. He was elected 
Judge of Probate in 1848, and re-elected in 1852. 
He is a lawyer of acknowledged learning and ability. 

Henry H. Harmon, another attorney, settled in 
the village in 1847. He studied law in the office of 
Lewis H. Hewitt, and in the month of May, 1848, 
was admitted to the bar. He was appointed Cir- 
cuit Court Commissioner, by John S. Barry, in 1851. 
In 1852 he was elected to the same office. In 1854 
was elected Prosecuting Attorney. In 1862 he was 
elected a member of the House of Representatives, 
and in 1864 was elected Judge of Probate. 

There are many more persons whom we would 
like to enumerate, but our space forbids. We can 
call up the names of Coftrew, Spring, Gates, Steel, 
and others, who in their days of prime, constituted 
a coterie of fun, such as few towns have produced. 
The clubs of Johnson, Burke, BosAvell and Gold- 
smith are nowhere in comparison. Men of rare sus- 
ceptibilities for sport, used to come far out of their 
way to Howell, even in its pioneer days, just for the 
sake of laughing a little flesh on to their bones. 
They were never disappointed. For instance, who 
can fail to recollect that time, when General Cass 
stopped at the unpretending hotel of Benjamin J. 
Spring, a man, who as the sequel shows, could not 
restrain a joke, even in trouble. 

While the General sat eating, Benjamin, of course, 
stood over him, ready to anticipate his wants, and 



48 HISTORY OF HOWELL. 

seeing the " old hero " pull a long hair out of the 
butter. Spring caught it up as quick as thought, and 
quietly ordered the servant to go to the store and 
get some in which the hairs were better rotted. So- 
cieties, however, are continually changing, and many 
of the wonted faces are gone from us forever. We 
will not mourn them, but we will cast now and then, 
a backward glance through this little history, and be 
glad to reflect, that we have had even a short time 
in our lives in their society. 

The present inhabitants of the town, their occu- 
pation, and the year of their settlement. Men who 
were under 21 years of age at the time they came 
to Howell, but are now over 21, and are owners of 
real estate, or permanent residents, are included; 
and also, those over 21 years of age, that were born 
in Howell, the year of their birth is given. 

Residents of tlie Several Sections. 

FARMERS OP SECTION OXE. 



Sylvester Andrews, settled, 1857 William B. McMillan, settled,. . , 

Vestell Baker " 1854 Ansel Wells settled 


,.1857 
, 1866 


Waldo Baker,' " 1854 




POPULATION OP THE SECTION. 




Males over 21 years of age, 6 1 Males under 21 years of age, . . 

Females over 21 years of age, 4 | Females under 21 years of age. 


... 9 
... 6 


SECTION TWO. 




Henry Chittenden, settled, 1849 .John Van Arsdale, settled, . . . , 

Stephen Wiles, " 1866 


..1867 


POPULATION OP THE SECTION. 






... 11 


Females over 21, 6^ Females under 21, 


... 6 


SECTION THREE. 




William Y. Hyde, settled, 1847 George W. Wil'^cersou, settled,. . 

Calvin Wilcox, " 1865 


..1856 


POPULATION OP THE SECTION. 




Males over 21 6 1 Males under 21, 


... 8 


Females over 21 5 Females under 21 


... 2 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 



49 



SECTION FOUR. 



John Roberson, settled, ] 851 

James Roberson, " 1851 



David Roberson, settled, 1861 



POPULATION OP THE SECTIOX. 



Males over 21, 5 

Females over 21 6 



Males under 21, 3 

Females under 21, ti 



SECTION FIVE, 

John B. Larowe, settled, ..... 
Joseph Stafford, ' " 

POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 

Males over 21, 6 1 Males under 21 



1836 I George Stafford, settled, 1848 

1848 Henry F. Allen, " 1855 



Females over 21, 



. . 5 I Females under 21, 

SECTION SIX. 

.1865 I "William Newman, settled,. 



Henry P. Boyd, settled,.., 
Charles Sharp, " .. 

POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 

Males over 21, 3 1 Males under 21; 8 

Females over 21, 3 | Females under 21, 6 

SECTION SEVEN. 

1843 I Adam Conradt, settled, 1865 



Alvah Tomlinson, born, . , 

George W. Place, settled, 1854 | Edgar Durfee, 

Leonard Conradt, " 1865 



Males over 21, . . 
Females over 21, 



POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 

6 1 Males under 21, 



William Lake, settled, 
Jesse Marr, " 

Cyrus Marr, " 



Males over 21, .. 
Females over 21, 



6 I Females under 21, 6 

SECTION EIGHT. 

1838 I Harlem MaiT, settled, 1839 

1839 Charles Damon, " 1860 

1839 I Colon Redpath, blacksmith, 1853 

POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 

8 1 Males under 21, 11 

9 Females under 21 12 



SECTION NINE. 



Charles Lake, farmer, 
Wm. A. Dorrance, 
Aaron Dorrance, 
Francis Henry, 



settled, . . .1838 
' ...1842 

' ...1842 

' ...1845 



William Roberson, farmer, set., 1853 

Sidney Carpenter, " 1858 

Wilham A Dean, " 1865 

Peter J. Dean, " 1865 



POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 



Males over 21, 13 

Females over 21, 13 



Males under 21, 13 

Females under 21, 20 



SECTION TEN. 



Solomon Hilderbrant, settled, 1842 

Alvah Allen, settled, 1843 

Andrew J. Allen 1843 



John Elson, settled, 1856 

EnosW. Hill, " 1857 



50 



HISTORY OF HOWELL, 



POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 



Males over 21, G 

Females over 21, 7 



under 21, 4 

Females under 21, 7 



SECTION ELEVEN. 



Ichabod Kneeland, settled, 1836 

William Earl, " 1839 

Henry Smith, " 1842 

Nicholas Hale, " 1864 



Alfred Earl, settled, 1866 

Elias Kleckler, " 1866 

George Raymor, settled, 1867 



Males over 21,... 
Females over 21, 



POPULATION OF THE SECIION. 

, 8 1 Males under 21 14 



Females under 21, 12 

SECTION TWELVE. 

Harvey Durfee, settled 1843 | Robert Holmes, settled 18-59 



Dexter Filkins, 



1853 I Isaac Norton, 

POPULATION OP THE SECTION, 



.1867 



Males over 21,,... 
Females over 21,. 



Males under 21, . . . 
Females under 21, 



SECTION THIRTEEN. 



DeWitt C. Kneeland, settled, 
A. Dana Kneeland, " 
Abraham Switz, " 



...1840 
...1840 
,..1846 



Theodore Staley, settled, 1853 

Peter Lamoroux, " 1866 



POPULATION OP THE SECTION. 



Males over 21, . . 
Females over 21, 



Males under 21, 3 

Females under 21, 10 



SECTION FOURTEEN. 

Oliver Earl, settled, 1839 I Thomas Gordon, settled, 1858 



Roger F. Archer, settled, 1845 

Thomas Stevens " 1855 



Richard May, 



.1862 



Males over 21, . . 
Females over 21, 



Thomas Bucknell, settled, 

John H. Diamond, " 



POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 

6 1 Males under 21, 5 

5 1 Females under 21, 4 

SECTION FIFTEEN. 

Seymour E. Howe, settled, 1856 



.1855 
.1855 



POPULATION OP THE SECTION. 

Males over 21, 4 1 Males under 21, 10 

Females over 21 5 Females under 21 4 



SECTION SIXTEEN. 



Henry Larowe born, 1840 

John Carl, settled, 1842 

William More, settled 1847 

Stephen S. More, " ' 1847 

Robert McLean, " 1848 

Thomas Gilchrist, " 1854 



Everett Sargent, settled, . . . 


....1864 


Robert Wakefield, " 


....1855 


Eli Hornish, " ... 


....1858 


Daniel Elleuwood, " 


....1864 


Henry Pell, " 


....1864 


Eri Campbell, " 


. . . .1867 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 



51 



POPULATIOX OF THE SECTION. 

Males over 21, 12 I Males under 21, 7 

Females over 21, 11 | Females under 21, 13 



Henry Lake, settled, 1836 

Abraham A. Van Nest, settled,. .1837 

Nicholas N. Lake, born, 1841 

Alonzo Fowler, settled 1843 



SECTION SEVENTEEN. 

Horace L. Lake, born, 1843 

Sanford S. More, settled, 1847 

Charles A. Phillips, settled, 1854 

Samuel Strictley, " 1858 



POPCtATIOK OF THE SECTIOy. 

Males over 21, 9 1 Males under 21, 8 

Females over 21, 8 | Females under 21, 3 



Farmers. Settled. 

Joseph Hogle, 1841 

Christopher Van Nest, 1844 

Samuel Sidell, 1863 

Harvey Bushnell, 1865 



SECTION EIGHTEEN. 

Farmers. Settled. 
Alexander Cameron, 1866 

Coopers. 

A. W. Fuller, 1856 

Warren Fuller, 1858 



POPULATION OF THB SECTION. 



Males over 21, 9 

Females over 21, 7 



Males under 21 , 9 

Females under 21, 15 



SECTION NINETEEN. 



Farmers. Settled. 

Russel Richmond, 1856 

Peter Woll, Jr., 1856 

David Hall, 1862 

Jerome Hand, 1867 

Charles Hilderbrant, Cooper, 1842 



Farmers. Settled. 

Philander Bennett, born, 1845 

Ralph Bunn, 1846 

John Bunn, 1846 

Frankhn E. Stewart, 1850 

John W. Richmond, 1855 

Tracey Richmond, 1856 

POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 

Males over 21, 14 1 Males under 21, IJ 

Females over 21, 12 | Females under 21, 10 

SECTION TWENTY. 



Farmers. Settled. 

John W.Smith, 1835 

Vernon C. Smith, born, 1838 

Ephraim Fowler, 1843 

Martial Fowler, 1843 

William E. Bennett, born, 1843 

Perry Brundage, 1846 

Henry Stevens, 1851 

John Stevens, 1851 



Farmers. Settled. 

Phineas Stewart, 1854 

Alonzo Ferren, I860 

Charles Marken, 1866 

Rosco Fowler, blacksmith, 1843 

Ezekiel King, hotel keeper, 1860 

John Park, grocer and Post Mas- 
ter at Fleming, 1856 



POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 



Males over 21, 15 1 Males under 21, 9 

Females over 21, 13 | Females, under 21, 11 



52 



HlSTOllY OF HOWELL. 



SECTION TW'ENTY-OXE 



Farmers. Settled. 

ElishaH. Smith, 1835 

Burt Brayton, 1838 

Nathaniel Brayton, born, 1839 

Walter V. Smith, born, 1841 

Galen 0. Phillips, 1845 

Harris Henry, 1845 



Farmers. Settled. 

Nicholas Lake, 1849 

Nicholas Lake, Jr., 1849 

Henry Lake, 1849 

William Stewart, 1 854 

David F. Crandal, 1866 

Orrin J. Wells, millwright, 1859 



rOPULATION OF THE SECTIOX. 



Males over 21, 14 

Females over 21, 14 



Males under 21, 9 

Females under 21, 11 



SECTION TWENTT-TWO. 



Farmers. Settled. 

Daniel Case, 1836 

Orlando Brewer, 1836 

Almon Brewer, 1836 

Henry 0. Monroe, 1837 



Farmers. Settled. 

George Wakefield, 1853 

Robert S. Creig, 1862 

Benjamin Waldron, 1862 

Ira Brayton, proprietor of Mills, 1888 



rOPCLATION OP THE SECTION. 



Males over 21, 11 

Females over 21, 9 



Males under 21, 12 

9 I Females under 21, 15 

SECTION TWENTY-THREE. 



Farmers. Settled. 

William Smith, 1843 

Henry Harrington, 1849 

Reuben Warren, 1855 

William White 1 856 



Farmers. Settled. 

Robert Musson, 1858 

Calvin Dillon, 1863 

Andrew Eari, 1866 

Charles Yelland, 1867 



Farmers. 
James J. Bennett, 



Settled. 
...1866 



POPDLATION OF THE SECTION. 

Males over 21, 11 I Males under 21, 24 

Females over 21, 11 | Females under 21, 16 

SECTION TWENTY-FOUR. 

Farmers. Settled. 

John Wassenger 1852 

George Frink, . .' 1862 

POPULATION OF THE SECTIO.V. 

Males over 21, 6 1 Males under 21, 12 

Females over 21, 5 | Females under 21, 6 

SECTION TWENTY-FIVE. 

Farmer. Settled. I Farmer. Settled. 
Ezekiel Buckle, 1857 | Francis S. Hardy, 1868 



Males over 21, .. 
Females over 21, 



POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 



Males under 21, 6 

Females under 21, 4 



SECTION TWENTY-SIX. 

Farmer. Settled. I Farmer. Settled. 
Joseph Hubbard, 1861 | Elijah Mueson, 1866 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 



53 



POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 



Males over 21 2 I Males under 21, 

FemalesoTer21 3 | Females under 21, 1 



SECTION TWEXTT-SEVEX. 



Farmers. Settled. 

Joseph Preston, 1846 

Ransom Barrett, 1846 

AsaMcFall, 1851 

Jesse Child, 1856 

POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 

Males over 21, 10 I Males under 21, .. 

Females over 21, • 8 | Females under 21, 



Settled. 
. . . .1860 



Farmers. 

Edward Briggs, 

John Briggs, i»o" 

Michael Chaffee, 1866 



SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT. 

Farmers. Settled. 

Silas Smith, 1854 

John Casterton, 1865 



Farmers. Settled. 

Francis Monroe, 1837 

Samuel M. Yerkes, 1845 

George Louck, 1846 

POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 

Males over 21, T I Males under 21 J 

Females over 21, 8 Females under 21, » 

Colored persons, 11 I 

SECTION TWENTY-NINE. 

Settled. I Farmers. 



Farmers. 

WiUiam Burch, 1863 

George Baker, 1865 



Settled. 

Lewis Geyer, .1865 

Robert Johnson, 1866 



POPULATION OP THE SECTION. 

Males over 21, 4 I Males under 21, 4 

Females over 21, 4 | Females under 21, 10 

SECTION THIRTY. 

Farmers. Settled, i Farmers. 

Frank Hook, I860 

Leonard Hook, 1861 



Settled. 

Miles "W. Davison, 1865 

Henry Rogers. 1867 



Maels over 21, . . 
Females over 21 . 



POPULATION OF THE SECTION 

Males under 21 



5 1 Males under 21, o 

4 I Females undeT 21 , 7 



SECTION THIRTY-ONE. 



Farmers. Settled. 

George Austin, 1835 

Samuel Stebbins, 1836 

Ebenezer Stearns, 1855 

Henry Stearns, 1855 



Farmers. Settled. 

Allen Stearns, 1865 

George Detterloy, 1862 

John Hawes, 1867 



POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 



Males over 21, 7 

Females over 21, 9 



Males under 21, 9 

Females under 21, H 



54 HISTORY OF HOWELL. 



SECTION TDmrr-Two. 

Farmers. Settled, l Farmers. Settled" 

James Daniels, 1852 Ferdinand W. Munson, 1860 

Andrew Woll, 1856 | 

POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 

Males over 21, 3 1 Males under 21 , 6 

Females over 21, 5 | Females under 21. .' 6 

SECTION THIRTY-THREE. 

Farmers. Settled, j Farmers. Settled. 

John Van Blaricom, 1852 William Tongue, 1858 

EnoB Sowlcs, 1854 ( 

POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 

Males over 81, 3 1 Males under 21, 4 

Females over 2i, 3 | Females under 21, 4 

SECTION THIRTY-FOUR. 

Farmer. Settled. I Farmer. Settled. 
Richard Ray, 1858 | Nicholas J. Holt, 1861 

POPULATION OF THE SECTION. 

Males over 21, 3 1 Males under 21, 9 

Females over 21 , 5 | Females under 21, 6 

RECAPITULATION. 

Whole number of males over 21 years of age, 243 

Whole number of temales over 21, ^ 236 

Whole number of males under 21, 286 

Whole number of females under 21, -. 274 



The following is the number of acres of improved 
land, and the number of cattle, horses, sheep and 
swine owned on each section: 

SECTION ONE. 

Acres of improved land, 280 1 Sheep, 260 

Cattle, 20 Swine, 29 

Horses, 12 I 

SECTION TWO. 

Land, 220 1 Sheep, 47 

Cattle, 14 Swine, 21 

Horsee, 8 | 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 55 



SECTION THREE. 



Land, 315 I Sheep, 260 

Cattle, ; 15 Swine, 52 

Horsf 8, 12 I 

SECTION FOUR. 

Land, 90 I Sheep, 103 

Cattle, 15 Swine, 24 

Horses, 10 | 

SECTION FH'E. 

Land, 235 I Sheep, 198 

Cattle, 43 Swine, , 20 

Horses,. 11 | 

SECTION SIX. 

Laud 121 I Sheep, .\ 91 

Cattle, 16 1 Swine, 22 

Horses, 5 I 

SECTION SEVEN. 

Land, 80 1 Sheep, 84 

Cattle, 21 Swine, 28 

Horses, 8 | 



SECTION EIGHT. 

Land, 336 I Sheep, 359 

Cattle, 62 Swine, 44 

Horses, 14 J 

SECTION NINE. 

Land, 235 l Sheep, 88 

Cattle, 46 Swine, 29 

Horses, 19 ] 

SECTION TEN. 

Land, 185 I Sheep, 195 

Cattle, 27 Swine, 28 

Horses, 6 | 



SECTION ELEVEN. 

Land, 340 I Sheep, 232 

Cattle, 39 Swine, 48 

Horses, 13 | 

SECTION TWELVE. 

Land, 320 I Sheep, 151 

Cattle, 42 Swine, 68 

Horses, 12 | 

SECTION THIRTBEN. 

Land, 340 I Sheep, 560 

Cattle, 33 Swine, 4Q 



56 HISTORY OF HOWELL 



SBCTION POURTKEN. 

Land, 373 I Sheep, 279 

Cattle, 30 Swine, §0 

Horses, 12 | 

SECTION FIFTEEN. 

Land, 142 I Sheep, 158 

Cattle, 20 | Swine 29 

Horses, 

SECTION SIXTEEN. 

Land, 317 I Sheep, 264 

Cattle, 52 Swine, 55 

Horses, 13 I 

SECTION SEVENTEEN. 

Land, 345 i Sheep, 411 

Cattle, 43 Swine, 61 

Horses, 27 | 

SECTION EIGHTEEN. 



Land, 283 I Sheep, 269 

Cattle,- 48 Swine, 39 

Horses, v 13 | 

SECTION NINETEEN. 

Land, 225 I Sheep, 99 

Cattle, 38 Swine, 61 

Horse?, 16 | 

SECTION TWENTY. 

Land, 470 I Sheep, 

Cattle, 49 | Swine, 

Horses, 15 



SECTION TWENTT-ONE. 

Land, 386 I Sheep, 349 

Cattle, 54 Swine, 39 

Horses, 17 I 

SECTION TWENTY-TWO. 

Land, 428 I Sheep, 244 

Cattle, 40 Swine, 32 

Horses, 20 | 

SECTION TWENTY-THREE. 

Land, 271 I Sheep, 248 

Cattle, 26 Swine, 38 

Horses, 15 | 

SECTION TWKNTY-FOCR. 

Land 252 I Sheep, 260 

Cattle, 29 Swine, 29 

Horses, 9 1 Mules, 1 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 57 



BKCTI05 TWE5TT-FITE. 

Land, 161 I Sheep, 149 

Cattle, 8 Swine, 23 

Horses, 5 I 



SECTIOX rwEXTY-srx. 

Land, 55 I Sheep, 34 

Cattle, 7 Swine, 1 

Horses, 11 

SECTION TWENTY-SE^TEN. 

Land, 271 I Sheep, 245 

Cattle, 18 Swine, 22 

Horses, 12 | 

SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT. 

Land, 471 I Sheep, 600 

Cattle, 67 Swine, 38 

Horses, 17 | 

SECTION TWENTY-NINE. 

Land, 175 I Sheep, 90 

Cattle, 29 Swine, 2S 



SECTION THIRTY. 

Land, 84 I Sheep, 64 

Cattle, 29 Swine, 31 

Horses, 5 | 

SECTION THIRTY-ONE. . . 

Land, 185 I Sheep, 149 

Cattle, 34 Swine, 29 

Horses, 12 | 

SECTION THIRTY-TWO. 

Land,... 75 I Sheep, 145 

Cattle, 18 Swine, 22 

Horses, 8 | 

SECnON THIRTY-THREE. 

Land, 148 I Sheep, 39 

Cattle, 14 Swine, 28 

Horses, 9 | 

SECnON THIRTY-FOUR. 

Land, 185 I Sheep, 112 

Cattle, 19 I Swine, 17 

Horses,-- 10 



58 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 



RECAPITULATION. 

4 

The whole number of acres of improved land in the town, 8,40 

" " of cattle, 1,065 

'■ " of horses, 399 

" " of sheep, 7,464 

'' " of swine, 1,189 

" '' of mules, 1 

The number of acres of improved land within the corporation of Howell, 1,214 

Number of cattle, ." , .'. ] 68 

" of horses, 185 

" of shfeep, 672 

" of swine, •. 184 



The folio wiog is a list of the inhabitants of the 
corporation and village; their occupation, and the 
year they settled in the town or village. Men who 
were under 21 years of age when they came to 
Howell, but who are now over 21, are included, and 
also, those who were born in Howell, the year of 
their birth is given: 



Farmers. Settled, 

Lewis Thompson, 1835 

Ezra J. Mondaj', 1835 

George W. Kneeland, 1836 

Joseph H. Steel, 1836 

Almon Whipple, 1837 

Edward F. Gay, 1837 

Charles Clark, 1843 

Frank C. Whipple, born, 1843 

Nathan J. Hickev, 1844 

Charles A. Wilber, 1844 

Sylvanus Lake, 1846 

Warren Green, 1846 

Ira Preston, 1847 

William C, Rumsey, 1847 

Jerome C. Helms, 1847 

RufusF. Glass, 1848 

David Blackman, 1849 

V. R. T. Angell, 1856 

George K. Hoyt, 1856 

LaFayctte Barnhart, 1857 

Ezra Whitaker, 1857 

Azel Carpenter, 1858 

Franklin Goodrich, 1860 

William Woodward, 1861 

Charles Woodward, 1861 

William Williamson, 1 861 

5. W. Bowers, 1864 



Farmers. Settled. 

John E. Doru, 1 864 

Orin Winegar, 1864 

Lyman Pratt, 1865 

F. A. Peavey, 1865 

Chauucey Chapin, 1866 

Thomas Marston, 1867 

Charles Reeves, 1867 

Barzilla Holt 1867 

Nicholas Krisler, 1867 

Gilbert Wolcott, 1867 

Oliver Wolcott, 1867 

David Phelps, 1867 

F. D. Sabin, 1867 

Laborers : 

Francis W. Colburn, 1839 

Leander C. Smith, 1847 

Leonard F. Helms, 1847 

Andrew J. Rumsey, 1841 

John Daniels, 1850 

L. D. Smith, 1851 

Samuel Balcom, 1851 

George Balcom, 1851 

Rynaldo Balcom, 1851 

William Daniels, 1853 

Adam Hall, 1854 

Edwin Angel, 1856 

Martin Woll, 1856 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 



59 



Laborers : Settled. 

James Teasdale, 1856 

Andrew Feelej, 1867 

William Musson, 1857 

Henry Ptite, 1857 

Henry Musson, 1857 

Frederick Zitze, 1859 

Thomas Briggs, 1860 

J. W. Brower, I860 

Leonard Hendricks, 1867 

William Brower, 1867 

Staging: 
Charles W. Barber, 1860 

Stage-Driver: 
John Stapleton, 1851 

Farrier: 
Joseph H. Peebles, 1842 

Livery : 

William E. Huntley, 1847 

Ira C. Huntley, 1847 

Royal H. Rumsey 1847 

Teamsters : 
Allen Lownsbury, 1855 

D. C. Tucker, 1866 

E. B. Gregory, 1860 

Drovers : 

H. P. Wheeler, 1864 

B. A. Morgan, 1864 

Loren Allen, 1865 

Manufact'rs of farm tools, &c. : 

John H. Galloway,. 1844 

Hudson B. Blackman, 1 849 

George L. Clark, 1866 

Floyd S. Wykoflf 1862 

Machinists : 

Benjamin Curtis, 1840 

John J. Vandeusen, 1854 

Richard Peterson, 1864 

Moulders : 

Luther Frink 1845 

Allen T. Huntley, 1847 

George U. Taylor, 1847 

Charles Martick, 1863 

Manufacturers of tin, sheet- 
iron and eopper wares, and 
dealers in hardware : 

Francis N. Monroe, 1837 

Edward P. Gregory 1839 

Manufacturer of tin, sheet-iron 
and copper-wares : 
Albert B. Green, 1867 

Tinners: 

Charles Sager, 1866 

R. E. Bartcke, 1866 

Proprietor of wagon and black- 
smith shops: 
William R. Melvin 1842 



Wagon-makers : Settled. 

Henrv B. Curtis 1840 

Francis J. Melvin, 1842 

Wilson Sowles, 1844 

William D. Rumsey 1847 

James Elsie, ; 1851 

Isaac Van Loon, 1851 

William Cooper, 1855 

Mark J. Staley, 1861 

Matthew Mynahan, 1864 

Carriage Trimmer; 
William C. Loehne, 1867 

Carriage-painter : 
Thomas Clark 1864 

House-painter: 
Hoyt B. Treadwell, 1853 

Blacksmiths: 

Lewis Cass Chandler, 1843 

Henry Greenaway, .1846 

Bernard Cummiskey, 1852 

Elias Brockway, 1855 

Alonzo Teasdale, 1856 

Charles Culver, 1860 

William L. Knapp, 1865 

Theodore Knapp, 1865 

Robert Grieve, 1866 

Carpenters : 

Silas Beardsley, 1845 

Luman Frink, 1845 

Noah Boothby, 1854 

James Monroe, 1854 

Frederick Brockway, 1855 

Benjamin Washburn, 1855 

Daniel Beardsley, 1858 

Jason McFail, 1859 

Philander Hill, 1862 

D. L. Robinson, 1865 

J. M. Hendricks, .1865 

E. D. Wines, 1865 

George Bush, 1866 

John Latson, 1 866 

T. W. Wisner, 1866 

Manufacturer of window-sash, 
blinds and doors : 
John G. Mason, 1845 

Cooper: 
George W. Clark, 1861 

Manufact'r of coffins and tomb- 
stones: 
Benjamin W. Cardell, 1847 

Marble engraver : 
Philo B. Wines, 1859 

Shoe-makers : 

Richard Fishbeck 1837 

Stephen Fishbeck, born, 1841 

Leonard Fishbeck, born, 1844 

Joseph Pruden 1854 



60 



HISTORY OF HOWELL 



Shoe-makeas: Settled. 

Joseph H. Donley, 1858 

Charles Donley, 1858 

Giles Donley, 1858 

Amos Smith, 1858 

William King, 1862 

La Fayette Snow, 1864 

Charles Rogers, 1867 

Isaac Mott, 1867 

Cabinet-makers : 

William R. Griffith, 1851 

Gottlieb Hugger, 1854 

Harvey Goodrich, 1866 

Masons : 

John R. Neeley, 1839 

Daniel Parker, 1847 

Mason Boyce, 1852 

Jonathan R. Axtell, . . 1853 

Tailors: 

James Swiney, 1845 

Orlando Cole, 1863 

Saddle and harness makers : 

Lorenzo Sullivan, 1843 

Theodore Huntley 1847 

Joseph M. Gilbert, 1852 

Joseph Wallace, 1867 

H.:F. Gilbert, 1867 

William Davis, 1867 

J. T. Fisher,..,... 1867 

Proprietors of a steam saw-mill 
situated on Sec. 17 : 

William B. Smith, 1843 

Franklin KeUey, 1848 

Millers: 

Morris Thompson, 1835 

Thomas Shiveley, 1836 

Engineer: 
Amos T. Slader, born, 1842 

Bakery : 
George Lakin, 1865 

Brewery : 
John Jones, 1860 

Butchery and meat markets : 

William Chambers, 1855 

Jacob Tourje, 1866 

Dealers in dry goods, groceries, 
drugs and medicines : 

William McPherson, 1836 

William McPherson, Jr., 1836 

Martin J. McPherson, born, 1841 

Edward G. McPherson, born, ...1845 

Dry goods and groceries : 

William B. Jewett, 1837 

Z. Forbs Grossman, 1852 

George Greenaway, 1846 

Henry H. Mills, 1867 

L. C. Dean, 1860 



Dry goods and groceries : Settled. 

Ledyard Flint, 1866 

Frederick J. Lee, (retired,) 1845 

Hardware and groceries : 
John Cummiskey, 1850 

Clothing: 
Joseph Finsterwald, 1865 

Leather, boots and shoes and 
groceries : 

Joseph B. Skilbeck, 1 889 

PerleyD. Skilbeck, born, 1844 

Groceries and provisions : 

Giles Tucker, 1836 

Leonard Haynes, 1866 

Groceries, drugs and medicines: 

George Taylor, 1847 

William W. Kenyon, 1866 

Groceries : 

Edward McGiinn, 1863 

Isaac Bamberger, 1865 

Books, drugs and medicines: 
Wallace W. Carpenter, 1864 

Jewelry, clocks and watches : 

Henry C. Briggs, 1856 

William H. Edgar, 1868 

Lumber, window sash and doors : 
Joseph H. Wilcox, 1865 

Tanner and dealer in gloves and 
mittens: 
George Blackman, .1849 

Saloon : 

Thomas Donley, 1858 

George Wilber, 1844 

Bankers : 

Alexander McPherson, 1836 

David Embury, 1864 

Clerks: 

Luther Glover, 1840 

Frank Hickey, 1844 

Edward Greenaway, 1846 

Edward Daniels, 1854 

Milton Pettibone 1864 

Frank Henry, 1865 

Warner Newell, 1866 

Frank Switzer, 1866 

Hotel keepers: 

Elbert C. Bush, 186S 

Handel Winship, 1864 

Harvey & Coalman, 1866 

Agency : 

M. W. Barker, 1866 

Toll-gate tender: 

Harvey A. Sowles, 18fl5 

Barber : 

Abram Losford, (colored,) 1867 

Photographic : 
Mrs. Alfred Coat3, 1864 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 



61 



Photograpbic : Settled . 
ilissJ. Palmer, 1866 

Proprietors of newspapers : 

Andrew D. Waddell, 1835 

Julius D. Smith, 1859 

Joseph T. Titus, 1857 

Attorneys and Counselors at law : 

Andrew D. AVaddell, 1835 

MiloL. Gav, 1837 

Sardis F. Hubbell 1841 

Frederick C . Whipple, ; .... 1 846 

Henry H. Harmon, 1847 

Dennis Shields, 1860 

Marcus B. Wilcox, 1861 

Wallace W. Carpenter 1864 

Physicians and Surgeons: 

William Huntington 1843 

Z. H. Marsh 1847 

Andrew Bianck, 1848 

William L. Wells, 1849 

Robert C. Hutton 1857 



Physicians and Surg'ns: Settled. 
Wesley J. Mills, 1864 

Clergy: 
Rev. Mr. Jenks 1864 

" H. 0. Parker, 1864 

" Wm. Tilley, 1865 

" Mr. Lewis, 1866 

" Mr. Kenedy, 1866 

Supt. of Primary Schools : 
Isaac W. Bush, 1844 

County Clerk: 
Solomon Lyon, 1864 

Postmaster: 
Henry T. Clark, 1843 

Milliners : 

Mrs. J. G. Mason, 1840 

Mrs. J. Van Loon, 1851 

Mrs. Naylor, I860 

Mrs. N. P. Wheeler, . . .1864 

Mrs. H. Leed, 1867 

Mrs. F. D. Sabin 1867 



POPULATION OF THE VILLAGE. 

Males over 21 years of ago, 246 

Females over 21 years of age, 

Males under 21 years of age, 

Females under 21 years of age, ." 5J3e 

Colored persons, .V. . . , 10 



243 



Total, 



Remarks in Relation to tlie Iiilial>itants of the To>vn 
and Village. 

The inhabitants have labored under many disad- 
vantages, especially the agricultural part of the com- 
munity, particularly in their remoteness from market. 
Ox teams were used by most of the farmers for sev- 
eral years after the commencement of settling of the 
town. 

At the early settlement of the place, the nearest 
wheat market was at Hamburg, Livingston county. 
In 1840, wheat sold at that place for 43 j cents per 
bushel. At the same time merchandise, groceries 
and clothing were selling at exorbitant prices, at 



62 HISTORY OF HOWELL. 

Howell. In 1844, wheat sold at about 60 cents; corn, 
25 cents; oats, 15 cents per bushel, and pork was 
worth $1 75 a hundred, at Howell. One reason 
of the high price of goods and groceries, was on ac- 
count of the cost of transportation from Detroit, and 
the low price of farm produce was partially occa- 
sioned by the expense of transportation to market. 
The price of freightage from Detroit varied from 
$1 25 to $3 00 per hundred. The prices were varied 
according to the conditions of the road. The pres- 
ent price of transportation is 50 cents per hundred. 

The price of wheat in the spring of 1867, was 
$3 30; corn, $1; oats, 60 cents per bushel, and 
pork $10 a hundred. But these excessive prices of 
provisions, were partially occasioned by a light crop 
of wheat and corn in 1866, and a scarcity of pro- 
visions in the United States. And also, the great 
amount of currency that was necessarily put in 
circulation during the recent civil war, and the in- 
ternal revenue tariff had a tendency to augment the 
price of property in general. 

The town, like other inland places, destitute of 
public thoroughfares, was tardy in settling. 

The town and village was mostly settled by emi- 
grants from the State of New York. However, there 
were emigrants from England, Scotland, Ireland, 
Germany, Canada, the New England States, New 
Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The inhabitants 
were affable, generous and humane; but few of them 
were wealthy. 

They encountered many hardships, liable to occur 
to the inhabitants of new countries. They were 
afflicted by fevers and other diseases, which is the 
case in all new countries, especially in wheat gi'ow- 



HISTORY OF HOWELL. 63 

ing countries, or where lime exists in the soil. But 
through their perseverance and industry, most of 
them have attained to affluence. 

Contemplation . 

When we reflect upon the condition and the events 
that occurred at the settlement of the township, 
its appearance and scenery is vividly presented 
to our minds ideal. The forest, the bear, the deer, 
the elk, and the terrific yell of the wolf, is distinctly 
recollected. The location of the Indian wigwam is 
distinctive. The Indian with his rifle in pursuit of 
deer, and his friendly meeting of the white man is 
also remembered. His harsh and gutteral intona- 
tion " buzshoo," greets the ear. 

The scene changes, immigrants are arriving, the 
woods are disappearing before the strong arm of the 
pioneer; fields of grain are growing in its stead; 
fruit trees are planted ; school-houses, churches, and 
other public buildings are erected. Log houses and 
hovels are giving place to brick and frame structures; 
the village is incorporated. Side- walks are built, the 
promenades are decorated with ornamental treets; 
the streets are partially paved; the village is well 
regulated through its incorporate authority. Farm- 
ers, mechanics, merchants and professional men are 
prosperous. 



64 HISTORY or HOWELL. 



Supplement- -Sept., A. D. 1868, 



The favorable prospect, of the early completion of 
the Detroit and Howell Eailroad, and also the con- 
tinuation of the road to the city of Lansing, gave 
an impetus to industry and enterprise, and induced 
the rapid settling of the village. 

The route for the Eailroad from Howell to Lan- 
sing, was surveyed the first of May, 1868, under the 
supervision of Mr. Wm. Scott, Chief-Engineer of the 
Detroit and Howell Eailroad, and Mr. Joseph H. 
Wilcox, of How^ell, one of the Directors of the How- 
ell and Lansing Eoad. 

Accession of Lots to tlie Village Plot. 

In April, 1868, Wm. McPherson and Sons, Nathan 
J. Hickey and John H. Galloway, made an ad- 
dition to the north-east part of the village, of 108 
lots. In the same month, Almon Whipple added 50 
lots to the east part. In May following, Mrs. Jew- 
ett, widow of George W. Jewett, added 6-4 lots to 
the w^est part. 

Newspaper. 

In March, 1868, Mr. Waddell sold his interest in 
the Livingston Bepublican, and retired from its edi- 
torial charge, when Mr. Julius D. ^ Smith became 
editor, proprietor and pubHsher of the paper. 



HlS'rOKY OF HOWKIL. 6S 

Kducatioual. 

From the first commencement oi tke (settling of 
the town, the inhabitants have been zealous in the 
cause of education, and as the town became suffi- 
ciently populous, new school districts were formed, 
and at this date there are seven districts in the 
town, and each district is now provided with a 
commodious frame school house. 

The Village School Housr. 

This superb edifice was erected on the site <ji the 
former house, under contract, by school district No. 
1, and Mr. B. B. Rice, of Detroit, builder. When 
the building is completed, it will cost $25,000. It is 
three stories high above the basement, with a tower 
100 feet high. The house is divided into rooms by 
appropriate halls. The first story has two halls; 
one is 14 feet in width and G5 feet in length, the 
other is 11 feet in width, and 35 feet in length. 
There are three school rooms, and each room is 25 
feet by 35; two wardrobes each G feet by 16. 

The second story has two halls, one 14 feet in 
width and 65 in length, the other is 11 feet in width 
and 35 in length; three school rooms, each 25 feet 
by 35; one room for philosophical instruments, 
which is 12 feet square, and one recitation room, the 
same size; two wardrobes, each 6 feet by 16. 

The third story has one hall 14 feet in width and 
65 feet in length; one lecture room 35 feet by 65; 
one school-room 25 feet by 35; one room for the 
director, 12 feet square, and one recitation room, the 
same size. The first and second stories of the build- 
ing are 13 feet and two inches high in the clear. The 
third story is IB feet high in the clear Most of the 



66 HISTOKY OF HOWtl.r,. 

brick used in the building, were manufactured by 
Mr. Wm. Lake, on >sections21 and 22, in this town. 

C'onclMsion of tlic Volume. 

The reader will perceive that brevity has been our 
aim. But we have endeavored to be sufficiently ex- 
plicit in giving an account of the settlement, and 
the most important events that have occurred, hopeful 
that the History of Howell will be continued in 
the future, as this volume is only introductory, it 
being necessary that the history should be com- 
menced within the life and recollection of the first 
residents of the place. At this date there are but 
sixteen men living in the town or village, who settled 
in either place previous to the year 1838. "With 
these concluding remarks, this book is respectfully 
submitted to the inhabitants of the town and village, 
for their perusal 

E. H. S, 



